Look out notices against more PFI terrorists

Prof attack: More lookout notices issued

VR Jayaraj | Kochi

The Kerala Police on Saturday issued lookout notices for three more activists of Popular Front of India (PFI) in the case relating to the July 4 attack on a college even as seven workers of the outfit were arrested from a PFI facility in Aluva. A raid on the facility yielded more than 300 copies of a book with contents that were intended at creating enmity between religions were seized.

Lookout notices were issued on Saturday for PFI workers Niyas of Kaladi, Assiss of Odakkali and Ayub of Aluva. The police wanted them in custody for providing assistance for destroying evidences and arranging facilities for the culprits of the attack to escape. The police had two weeks ago held raids on two jewelry showrooms run by Ayub.

The police had the other day issued lookout notices for two PFI workers, Sajin and Shobin. The number PFI workers for whom lookout notices had been issued in the case had now gone up to 14, including prime accused Nasser.

The police had already arrested 24 Popular Front workers in connection with the attack on Prof TJ Joseph of Church-run Newman College of Thodupuzha. But they had not so far caught even one of the seven PFI men who had attacked the professor. They had confiscated the assets of Nasser earlier this week in a bid to smoke him out of his hideout.

Meanwhile, the police arrested seven Popular Front workers who had allegedly held a secret meeting at Periyar Valley, a facility of the outfit in Aluva. Sources said that a raid on the facility yielded 320 copies of a book titled “Islam, Succour of the Downtrodden “.

Officials said the contents of the book were intended at ridiculing Hindu and Christian religions. The author had used a pseudonym, Sukumaran, and there was no indication about the printer, they said. The police also reportedly recovered a secret letter written by a State leader of the Popular Front for funds-raising purpose.

The police said that the derogatory remarks had been made profusely against Hindu and Christian gods in several parts of the book. They added that twenty people had participated in the secret meeting at Periyar Valley, but all except the seven had escaped the scene before the police came. The raid was held by a team headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police PK Jayanath on the basis of secret information about the meeting.

Meanwhile, Nazeeruddin Elamaram, State president of the Popular Front, would appear before the Muvattupuzha police for questioning on August 18. The police had asked him to appear on Friday but he requested for an extension of the date. PFI general secretary Abdul Hameed, who had failed to turn up for questioning despite summons on August 10, also would appear on August 18.

P Koya, a national council member of the PFI, had been asked to appear before the police for questioning on August 16. The police are said to have got credible indications that the attack on the professor was carried out by the Muvattupuzha PFI unit with the knowledge of the State committee.

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