This story is part of
Coimbatore car blast | Terror probe, politics and more
SHOW MORE 101 STORIES

Five associates of Coimbatore car blast mastermind held, police invoke UAPA provisions to probe terror angle

During the investigation of the blast, the Coimbatore police came across a surveillance camera visual that showed Mubin and a few others carrying a heavy object wrapped in white sack from the former's residence

October 25, 2022 08:19 am | Updated October 26, 2022 05:25 pm IST - COIMBATORE

Police tighten security across Coimbatore on October 25, 2022, following the explosion of a car in front of Kottai Easwaran Kovil in the city on October 23, 2022

Police tighten security across Coimbatore on October 25, 2022, following the explosion of a car in front of Kottai Easwaran Kovil in the city on October 23, 2022 | Photo Credit: M. Periasamy

The police late on Monday arrested five associates of Jameesha Mubin (29), who was killed in the early morning car blast in front of Sangameswarar temple at Kottaimedu in Coimbatore, on October 23.

The Ukkadam police have invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against them and are investigating whether Mubin and his associates had planned a larger act of sabotage, and the explosives went off accidentally.

CCTV footage

Those arrested have been identified as Muhammad Thalha (25), Muhammad Azharudheen (23) of Ukkadam, Muhammad Riyas (27), Firoz Ismail (27) and Muhammad Nawaz Ismail (27) from G. M. Nagar near Ukkadam. They were produced before the second judicial magistrate court, Coimbatore, for remand late on Tuesday.

During investigation, the police came across a surveillance camera visual which showed Mubin and a few others taking out a heavy object wrapped in white sack from the former’s residence at H.M.P.R. Street at Kottaimedu around 11.30 p.m. on October 22.

Those arrested included persons seen in the CCTV footage. The accused reportedly told the police that they were helping Mubin shift between houses.

According to Coimbatore City Police Commissioner V. Balakrishnan, Riyas, Firoz Ismail and Nawaz Ismail helped Mubin transport explosive materials. Thalha is accused of arranging the car for Mubin which exploded in front of the temple around 4 a. m. on Sunday.

A search at Mubin’s residence later in the day led to the seizure of materials including 76 kg of potassium nitrate, aluminium powder, sulfur and charcoal, which could be used to make explosives.

The police suspect that, in the car, Mubin carried some of the chemicals in three small cans, two LPG cylinders, marbles and nails to create an explosive and added isopropyl alcohol (to the chemicals) to increase the impact of the blast. The police await the results of the forensic examination of samples collected from the blast site to confirm the use of chemicals. 

The police suspect that the explosion could have happened when Mubin tried to abandon the vehicle carrying the explosive after seeing a police presence ahead.

Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu (second right) inspecting the car which was gutted following an explosion in front of Kottai Eswaran Kovil in Coimbatore early on October 23, 2022. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu (second right) inspecting the car which was gutted following an explosion in front of Kottai Eswaran Kovil in Coimbatore early on October 23, 2022. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

After the blast, the police found one of the two LPG cylinders exploded and Mubin’s charred body on the road with marbles and nails scattered around the mangled car. 

Also Read | Annamalai blames TN government for failing to disclose adequate details about Coimbatore blast

Asked whether Mubin attempted to become a human bomb, senior police officers said the chances were unlikely as he left a cache of explosive materials in his house, possibly for use in future.

FIR altered; UAPA provisions invoked

Following the blast, the Ukkadam Police initially registered a case under Sections 174 (police to enquire and report on suicide, etc.) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Section 3 (punishment for causing explosion likely to endanger life or property) of the Explosive Substances Act.

Also Read | T.N. government for transferring probe to National Investigation Agency

Later, Sections 120 B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy, etc.) of the UAPA were added to the First Information Report, said Mr. Balakrishnan.

Top News Today

Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.