Author: K T Sangameswaran
Publication: The Hindu
Date: October 6, 2002
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/10/06/stories/2002100605570400.htm
Despite the elimination of Imam
Ali, a dreaded militant, and his associates in Bangalore six days ago,
the continued support given by people to fundamentalist groups is causing
concern to the police. They acknowledge that without the support of some
elements, apart from his associates, Ali could not have escaped from police
custody at Tirumangalam, near Madurai, and later sneaked out of the State.
While hunting for the wanted persons,
the police were also trying to find out whether there was any other person
in the house at MSR Layout in Bangalore, where Imam Ali, his three associates
and a woman were shot dead.
When he was in Bangalore a few days
ago, the Tamil Nadu Director-General of Police, B. P. Nailwal, discussed
``matters of police importance'' with his Karnataka counterpart, T. Madiyal.
Though no new strategy was worked
out between the police of the two States to nab the absconding accused,
joint teams, such as the one which went into action in Bangalore, would
be formed as and when required. Intelligence on militants would also be
shared, a senior State police officer told The Hindu. It would be a relentless
hunt for the absconders.
The police strongly suspect that,
apart from those who directly helped Imam Ali and Hyder Ali (since rearrested)
escape from custody, some persons were assisting the duo as it was moving
about in the State clandestinely.
This belief was strengthened after
the police came across several telephone numbers and addresses in both
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Adding to this was the presence in Bangalore
of Yasmin of Madurai, about whom the police did not have much information.
The police recalled they missed
Imam Ali by a whisker on a couple of occasions in Tamil Nadu. This getaway
could have been facilitated only by some locals.
The links Imam Ali had in Kerala
were also being looked into, as during the hunt the police received information
that he had been shuttling between Tamil Nadu and that State.
