Chargesheet filed in Melapalayam explosives case

Nineteen persons have been chargesheeted in the 'Melapalayam explosives case' in which a large cache of ammunition was seized in July last year.
Crime Branch CID of Tamil Nadu Police filed the chargesheet in a Tirunelveli court yesterday naming the 19 persons under various sections of the Explosives Substances Act, Arms Act 1959, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, and IPC, an official release today said.
The CB-CID's seizure of two 'gel' packs and two detonators at Melapalayam by intercepting two persons during a random check on July 27 last led to searches at a house in that town in Tirunelveli district. The raids unearthed 136 gel packs, 141 detonators and four persons were arrested for possession and transport of these explosives.

Subsequent probe led to the seizure of a pistol and 53 live cartridges of 7.65 mm were recovered at Coimbatore and in this connection four persons were arrested and remanded.
Further investigation led to the seizure of funds of over Rs six lakh in the name of CTM under the guise of helping members of the minority community facing criminal cases but using it for Jihad and allied Unlawful Activities by one Kichan Buhari of Melapalayam, the release said.
"Investigation revealed that the accused have participated in conspiracy to illegally procure, possess and transport explosives to be used for the purposes of Jihad," the release said.

According to the release, experts have confirmed that the seized explosives were similar to those recovered from the hideout of accused 'Police' Fakruddin, allegedly involved in more than six cases, including the one related to planting of a pipe bomb on the yatra route of BJP leader L K Advani near Madurai in 2011.