34-year-old man held for bid to hurl petrol bomb at BJP worker’s office

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore city police arrested a 34-year-old man for conspiring to hurl petrol bombs at the office of a local BJP functionary over personal enmity.

During a vehicle inspection past midnight, a police team signalled M Nasar, from Sundarapuram, travelling on a two-wheeler, to stop around past midnight at Telungupalayam junction, on Thursday.

However, on seeing the police, Nasar sped away without stopping. Suspecting something amiss, the cops chased and intercepted Nasar within a short distance. When questioned, he gave evasive replies and the police found that Nasar had two bottles of petrol bombs.

Inquiries revealed that Nasar had previous enmity with Manikandan, from Telungupalayam, who is the president of BJP’s spiritual wing in Coimbatore (South).

“Manikandan recently turned down his request for Rs 5,000 towards some expenses. So, in a revenge plan, Nasar bought petrol from a bunk and made two petrol bombs. He was on his way to the BJP office, in an inebriated condition, when cops picked him,” the police said.

Police seized the petrol bombs and his two-wheeler. Police said Nasar is already facing several cases for hurling petrol bombs targeting the house of a Hindu Makkal Katchi leader and also at a theatre in Kuniamuthur. He was also facing charges for quarrelling with an SSI involved in patrol in the Karumbukadai locality.