JOIN USThough it was expected that the Islamic cleric-turned political leader who is the 31st accused in the Bangalore blasts case will certainly be arrested in the evening, it did not happen till late in the night. A large crowd of supporters and sympathisers of Madani had gathered in front of his residence since morning expressing solidarity with their leader who they believe was being framed in the case.
The crowd, which included women and children, raised slogans vowing to prevent the arrest despite Madani’s public assurance in recent days that he will abide by the law. Tension prevailed in the area for the whole day as the police tried to evacuate the milling crowd.
Police forces led by Kollam SP Harshita Attalloori asked those who were not residents of Anwarssery to disperse as prohibition orders had been clamped down on the village as well as the neighbouring village of Sasthamcotta. Electricity and water connections were severed in the area. Later, the police exploded tear gas shells when the crowd refused to disperse.
However, PDP leaders claimed that Madani’s supporters would abide by their leader’s wish to create no obstacle for the police in executing the warrant. Decks were cleared for the much-delayed arrest which got stuck in procedural wrangles after the Kerala and Karnataka home ministers thrashed out their differences on the issue on Friday. Madani’s lawyers, who moved the Supreme Court for anticipatory bail, said they did not expect the arrest to be carried out for two days by which time the court would take up the matter.