The Sasthamcotta police on Thursday arrested two activists of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on charges of rioting and violence at the Anwarssery camp of PDP chairman Abdul Nasir Maudany. The arrests were made on the basis of six criminal cases registered against PDP activists and supporters of Mr. Maudany.
The police said after investigations in the cases, if necessary, abetment offences would be charged against Mr. Maudany and PDP working chairman Poonthura Siraj.
The police identified the arrested persons as Shahul Hameed, Kunnathur mandalam secretary of the PDP, and party activist Rafi. More arrests are likely to be made on the basis of the cases charged.
Four cases pertain to unlawful assembly with rioting, raising provocative slogans and deliberate attempt to obstruct law enforcers from carrying out their duty. A case has also been registered on the charge of violating a High Court order against creating traffic obstructions, an attempt to suicide case and a case for burning the Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed in effigy.
Hundreds of PDP activists have assembled at the Anwarssery camp of Mr. Maudany to express their solidarity with him. A team of the Karnataka Police arrived here on Tuesday to execute the arrest warrant against Mr. Maudany who has been listed as an accused in the Bangalore serial blasts case.
Bangalore Deputy Commissioner of Police S.N. Siddaramappa, who was expected to reach Kollam on Thursday, has postponed the visit in view of reports that Mr. Maudany is suspected to have contracted influenza A (H1N1) and his serum samples have been sent for tests. Government doctors who examined him on Wednesday night said the preliminary diagnosis showed that he had contracted the disease.
