Petrol Bomb Attacks in TN: DMK, Allies Say BJP Capable of Self-Attacks

The home ministry banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on Wednesday citing a “threat to security”.

The ban followed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raiding 93 locations associated with the PFI across 15 states, including Tamil Nadu, and arresting 106 members of the organisation in 11 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

Over the next few days, Tamil Nadu reported 16 petrol bomb attacks at the houses and vehicles of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Hindu Munnani Katchi functionaries. As of September 27, the state police had arrested 14 people in connection with the attacks and registered 19 cases.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah mentioning the “deteriorating law and order situation in the state and terrorist activities of PFI”.

In turn, PFI state president M Mohammed Sheik Ansari condemned the BJP “for creating tension in Tamil Nadu for political gains” and stated that the PFI was falsely accused of such incidents. The BJP had hurled such bombs at their own properties for political gains in the past, he alleged.

SDPI DENIES CHARGES

Of the 14 arrests made in connection with the Molotov cocktail attacks in Tamil Nadu, five persons belong to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the PFI’s political wing.

At a press meet following the arrests, SDPI Tamil Nadu president Nellai Mubarak said, “There is no proof on the basis of which the arrests were made” alleging that the “ accusations are intended to dilute our politics”.

“We believe the Tamil Nadu Police made these arrests under the pressure of the BJP, which called for a protest, and the Hindu Munnani,” Mubarak added.

Regarding the arrest of Ramanathapuram district secretary Barakathullah by the NIA, Mubarak alleged, “The NIA said that he had wireless satellite phones to connect with people across the world. But no seizure voucher was provided stating that these items were retrieved from his house during the arrest. This reveals a conspiracy. He was arrested on fabricated charges.”

Mubarak claimed that Barakathullah is a “fisherman and the accusation that he tried to be in touch with people across the world is ridiculous”. “Why are the police hesitating to find out if RSS, BJP or Hindu Munnani were involved in these petrol bomb attacks?” he further alleged.

POSSIBLE SELF-ATTACKS BY BJP?

The September 26 issue of Murasoli, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) mouthpiece, alleged the possible involvement of the BJP in the petrol bomb attacks. It carried a full-page article with several instances of BJP leaders previously staging attacks on themselves to garner attention.

The allegation was echoed by DMK’s allies Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Communist Party of India (CPI), who said that the BJP is “notorious for organising attacks on itself and blaming others to garner publicity”. They urged the government to take stern action against anyone responsible for the recent incidents of petrol bomb attacks in the state.

Meanwhile, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) blamed the DMK regime on September 26 for “allowing” the spread of violence again in the state. Chief minister MK Stalin, who also looks after the home ministry, is silent on the matter.