Five SDPI cadres among 11 arrested for attacks on BJP, RSS workers’ properties across Tamil Nadu

Five SDPI functionaries were among the 11 arrested in connection with the attacks

The police on Sunday arrested 11 persons, including five members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), in connection with Molotov cocktail attacks on the properties of BJP and RSS functionaries in different parts of the State since Thursday night.

Even as a fresh attack took place in Salem on Sunday, DGP C. Sylendra Babu warned the troublemakers of action under the National Security Act.

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The attacks that began in Coimbatore have spread to some other parts of the State. On Sunday, persons allegedly affiliated to the SDPI hurled a kerosene-filled bottle at the house of RSS Salem Town community organiser V.K. Rajan near Ammapet.

The bottle did not explode. Based on the CCTV footage, the police arrested N. Syed Ali, 42, of Pachapatti near Kitchipalayam, who is the SDPI district president, and K. Khadeer Hussein, 33, of Ponnammapet, the 34th ward president of the SDPI. They were remanded in judicial custody, and the police seized a bike allegedly used in the incident.

Four persons, including an SDPI member, were arrested for the arson at the shop of a BJP youth wing functionary in Erode on the night of September 22.

The arrested were identified as SDPI member Sadam Hussain, 23, his friends A. Ashik, 23, A. Jaffar, 27, and I. Khalil Rahman, 28, all hailing from Karungalpalayam. Inspector General of Police (West Zone) R. Sudhakar said the accused were identified with surveillance camera visuals and other evidence, including two motorcycles that they had used. They threw packets filled with fuel at the furniture shop run by V. Dakshinamoorthy. He said nine similar attacks were reported in the West Zone since September 22: Mettupalayam (2), Pollachi (5), Puliyampatti (1) and Erode taluk (1). Investigations into the attacks in Pollachi and Mettupalayam were in the final stages, he said.