A reception was accorded to K.H. Nassar, who surrendered before the Town Central sub-inspector on Tuesday and was released on bail on Wednesday, in a case relating to spreading of communal hatred.
A rally from Rajendra Maidan to Menaka Junction was taken out as part of the reception to the accused.
Nassar was wanted in the case registered after CDs, video cassettes and leaflets allegedly spreading hatred between two communities were seized in searches conducted at the offices of the Central Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) and the Media Research and Development Foundation (MRDF) operating from Kaloor, in July 2010.
The police had also seized placards and pamphlets with messages likely to foment communal hatred.
As part of the investigation, the police had earlier arrested Abdul Salam, 51, district committee member of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and member of the CHRO; and N.M. Siddique, district president of the CHRO and coordinator of MRDF. A press release issued by the police said that Nassar has been absconding since then. He was produced before the court and remanded in police custody for further investigations on Tuesday. A police team led by Sunil Jacob, Assistant Commissioner, Ernakulam; D.S. Suneesh Babu, Circle Inspector and A. Ananthalal, sub-inspector, is probing the case.
