Tamil Nadu blast accused held in Karnataka after 27 years | India News

A Raja, also called Tailor Raja

COIMBATORE: After evading arrest for the previous 27 years in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts that killed 58 individuals and left 250 others injured, a key accused, A Sadiq (50), alias Tailor Raja, was arrested from a vegetable market at Vijayapura in Karnataka.Acting on a tip-off, a Coimbatore police crew camped in Vijayapura and monitored the motion of Sadiq, and arrested him Wednesday from his store. Tamil Nadu anti-terrorism squad performed a vital function in the operation. According to sources, Sadiq was a resident of Bilal Estate at Ukkadam, Coimbatore, in 1998. A hardcore Al-Umma cadre, he was an skilled in making improvised explosive units. Sadiq additionally linked to 1996 petrol bomb assault in Coimbatore He had rented a home at Vallal Nagar in Coimbatore, the place bombs had been manufactured and saved. He distributed bombs to a number of Al-Umma cadres days earlier than the blasts. Following the serial bombings on Feb 14, Sadiq escaped to Hubballi in Karnataka, the place he labored as a day by day wage labourer. He married a lady there and had three youngsters, sources mentioned.“He moved to Vijayapura with his family members 15 years ago, where he changed his name to Shajahan. He got an Aadhaar card, driving licence and other documents under the name Shajahan. Initially, he worked at the market and later ran a shop selling chillies,” mentioned a police officer who was a part of the crew. “During interrogation, Sadiq denied involvement in the serial bomb blasts. He was shocked about how the police traced his whereabouts,” the officer added.Sadiq was remanded in judicial custody until July 24, and subsequently lodged at Coimbatore central jail. ATS plans to take him into custody quickly for additional investigation. Sadiq was additionally concerned in the 1996 petrol bomb assault in Coimbatore, which resulted in the loss of life of a jail warden. Besides, he performed a job in the homicide of an individual in Nagore in 1996 and the 1997 homicide of a jailor in Madurai.