Police not sure if KFD has terror links

Kidnap-murder

While police are sure that the six men arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of two students from Hunsur, are active members of Mysore and Hunsur chapters of Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD), they are not sure if KFD is connected with any terrorist group.

Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Rupak Kumar Datta told Deccan Herald that it was the first instance of KFD members carrying out such an act.

Asked if KFD is a militant group and whether it has links with any terror group, Datta said: “The police never said KFD is a militant group. Right now, I have no information whether KFD has links with any terror groups.”

Was money the only motive behind the abduction of the two students?

“Money is just one aspect. We need some time to get more details as the investigation progresses. The suspects are making many statements at present. There could be other angles as well,” Datta said.

Had KFD carried out such activities in the past?

“As per preliminary investigations, this is the first time KFD activists have carried out such an act,” he said.

Datta said the men had abducted Sudheendra as they were aware of his father owning a lot of property in and around Hunsur.

The six arrested men attended four KFD meetings at Wilson Garden in Bangalore in 2009, according to police. They also participated in jail bharo organised in Mysore during communal riots in 2009. Police are yet to establish their motive for the abduction.
Police said, the suspects acted on the directions of Ataulla Khan who was a mobile repairer and knew the technology involved in making and receiving the calls.

They used more than 45 SIM cards and threw them away after making calls. The police verified as many as 3,000 mobile call records originating in and around Mysore and Hunsur on June 8. More than 400 calls were either received or made by KFD members. That strengthened suspicion that KFD activists were behind the episode, said police.

Two special teams worked in Mysore, Hunsur, Chikkaballapur, Bangalore, Krishnagiri and Madikeri and collected vital details about involvement of a few persons from Mysore.

“It is high time such organisations are banned. It’s a heinous and unpardonable crime. I will discuss the matter on banning KFD with the senior police officers and Chief Minister B S  Yeddyurappa and take appropriate step,” Home Minister R Ashoka said.