Petrol bombs were hurled at Tamil Nadu BJP headquarters in the heart of the metropolis in the wee hours of Thursday. A 38-year-old man was arrested immediately, but the party’s state unit chief K Annamalai demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging a “larger conspiracy.”
The incident took place at Kamalalayam, the state BJP HQ, at around 1.30 am on Thursday when the man identified as Vinodh came on a motorcycle and hurled bombs at the building. No one was hurt in the incident.
Hours after the incident, Vinodh was arrested with the police maintaining that he hurled petrol bombs as he was against BJP’s stand on NEET exam which majority of political parties in Tamil Nadu oppose. The police also clarified that Vinodh did not indulge in the act due to religious or political reasons.
Police said Vinodh is a repeat offender as he had been caught twice in the past for hurling petrol bombs at a police station in 2017 and at a TASMAC liquor shop in 2015.
This is the second time that Kamalalayam has come under attack from miscreants – the BJP HQ faced petrol bombs in 2007 at the height of protests against DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s comments against Lord Ram and in favour of the controversial Sethusamudhram project.
Addressing a press conference, Annamalai utilized the opportunity to level a series of allegations against the DMK Government. “Vehicles and offices of several BJP cadres have been attacked in the past few days. There seems to be a larger conspiracy or design behind this (attack). We demand that the investigation in the case be handed over to the NIA,” Annamalai said.
The former Karnataka-cadre IPS officer also punched holes in the police’s claim that BJP’s opposition to NEET led the man to attack the BJP office. “We just cannot accept the reason given. It is really funny that a history sheeter like him is talking about NEET as the reason for hurling petrol bombs,” he said.
Annamalai also alleged that law and order has deteriorated in Tamil Nadu and accused the DMK government of downgrading his security cover from Y to X level. “My phone is being tapped. I am under constant surveillance of the Intelligence department,” the state BJP chief said.
This is the second time that Kamalalayam has come under attack from miscreants – the BJP HQ faced petrol bombs in 2007 at the height of protests against DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s comments against Lord Ram and in favour of the controversial Sethusamudhram project.
In a complaint filed before the Mambalam police station, M Chandran, State Office Secretary, demanded additional security for the BJP HQ in the wake of the incident.
“The petrol bombs have been hurled to cause damage to the BJP HQ and to hurt those living inside the building. A similar incident had taken place in 2007. The government should probe the terror incident and punish the culprits,” Chandran said in his complaint.