VHP man held for hurling petrol bombs at Kovai CPM office

The arrested person who is said to be the prime accused in the incident has been identified as M Saravanakumar (37), a mechanical engineer from Mettupalayam. Inquiry revealed that he had worked in London before he settled here a couple of years ago. He has been conducting free yoga classes and is in-charge of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad for Coimbatore North. 

In the early hours of June 17, two unidentified persons came to the party office on a scooter and hurled two petrol bombs and fled the place. On the direction of City Police Commissioner A Amalraj, a special team was formed under assistant commissioner (Central) Ramesh Krishnan to nab the accused. 

While the CPI (M) office did not have a CCTV camera, Ramesh Krishnan said that the police managed to collect footage recorded in close to 300 CCTV cameras from the nearby areas. 

“It was a tough job as the accused was careful enough not to leave behind any clue,” said, Deputy Commissioner (L & O) S Lakshmi. Based on the make of the scooter, police approached vehicle dealers and zeroed in on Saravanakumar and he was arrested on Tuesday. 

During investigation, he reportedly confessed that he was upset over serial killings of various right wing outfit leaders and cadre in Kerala by CPI(M) members. 

Saravanakumar added that he had hurled the bomb at the CPM office here to give a warning to that party that is in power in Kerala. 

A senior police officer said that he was tight lipped about his accomplice and special teams were trying to identify him as well. He was produced before a judicial magistrate and lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison.