Probe whether killers had link with terrorists in Pak:Minister

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan today asked police to probe whether the killers of Hindu Munnani functionary, C Sasikumar, here, had any link with terrorists in Pakistan.
Replying to a specific question on reasons behind attacks on leaders of Hindu outfits, Radhakrishnan said it has to be taken into account that a few days after "Pakistan-sponsored attack at Uri", the city of Coimbatore witnessed the murder of a Hindu outfit functionary, which was "undoubtedly a terrorist activity."
"Considering this, police have to investigate the link and if there is any, there is the possibility of this being an act of anti-national activity," Radhakrishnan told reporters here, after visiting the house of Sasikumar, who was murdered on September 22.

The incident was not a religious one as leaders of all religions were present at the Government Hospital, where the body was kept and communal violence could have erupted as thousands of workers of Hindu outfits were present there, he claimed.
"Police failed to see through the designs of terrorists, who are on the run and could have taken precautionary measures to prevent the fatal attack," he said.
Hindu outfit leaders were being targeted since 1989, which reached its peak in 1998 serial blasts, killing 58 people, during the visit of BJP leader L K Advani here, the Minister said.

He claimed that the funeral procession of the Munnani functionary was moving without any problem, but violence started after a stone throwing incident near a place of worship, which culminated into a large-scale violence and arson, exploited by anti-social elements.

He alleged that police had failed to provide adequate protection to Sasikumar, despite attacks on leaders of Hindu outfits at Hosur and Dindigul over the past two weeks.
Radhakrishnan said he was told that Sasikumar had sought police protection following a threat to his life.
However, Radhakrishnan said he has full faith in Tamil Nadu police, which have formed six special teams to nab the culprits. But they should also identify and bring to book those persons who were really behind the attack, he added.

The Hindu Munnani district spokesperson was returning home at Subramaniam Palayam, on the outskirts, on a two-wheeler when unidentified assailants chased him on motorcycles and attacked him with sickles on September 22.
He succumbed to injuries at a private hospital.