Kovai blasts convict arrested for alleged murder bid on PM

The arrest follows a leaked telephonic conversation between Rafiq and another person identified as Prakash, a truck dealer from Salem district. In the eight-minute audio clip, which is doing rounds in social media, Rafiq (52) is heard telling the alleged plan to kill Modi to Prakash. 

Rafiq was arrested for the serial bombing, in which a total of 58 persons were killed and over 200 injured after multiple bombs went off in various places in Coimbatore on February 14, 1998. The blasts coincided with the visit of BJP leader LK Advani for election campaigning. Al-Umma founder SA Basha was found guilty of masterminding the blasts. After serving his jail term, Rafiq entered the used car business. 

In the audio conversation, Rafiq reportedly told Prakash, “We have decided to kill Modi. We even planted bombs during Advani’s visit to Coimbatore.” 

Prakash is heard as telling, “I know you (Rafiq) are facing a total of 22 cases and have damaged 67 vehicles.” Correcting that the figure is 160 vehicles and not 67, Rafiq continued, “Still the police do not dare to question me as they know who I am.  I have seen all cases from Goondas Act, TADA Act and National Securities Act in 2014.”  The controversial alleged talk between the two men takes place in the middle of a business call.  Salem police had registered a case and launched a search for Rafiq, who reportedly went underground in recent days. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also started its probe into the telephonic conversation. However, the Kuniamuthur police in Coimbatore arrested him on Monday.