Blast Convict Mohammed Rafiq rearrested on charges of planning a conspiracy to eliminate PM Modi

NewsBharati    24-Apr-2018
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Coimbatore, April 24: Mohammed Rafiq – a convict in the 1998 Coimbatore blast case, has been arrested by the Coimbatore police on Monday on charges of planning a conspiracy to eliminate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A telephonic conversation prompted the arrest when Rafiq had been heard saying that he is planning to kill the Prime Minister. Mohammed Rafiq, who has released from prison a few years ago, was re-arrested Monday.
 
This eight-minute telephonic conversation had gone viral on social media. The conversation between Rafiq and a transport contractor named Prakash mainly dealt with vehicular financing, with the businessman named Prakash demanding a vehicle back and Rafiq asking Rs 5 lakh for it.
The conversation though suddenly took a different turn when Rafiq claimed that “they” were planning to kill PM Modi, and that it was “them” who had planted bombs during LK Advani’s Coimbatore visit in 1998. Rafiq is also heard claiming that he has various cases against him and had destroyed over 100 vehicles.
On 14 February 1998, the city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu was rocked with serial bomb blasts which resulted in 58 deaths. Rafiq was accused of being involved in a series of bomb blasts on February 14, 1998, which led to the death of 58 people and destroyed property worth crores in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore. He was convicted for various charges, including criminal conspiracy and sent to jail in 1998. He was let out of the jail in 2007.
Investigators had later found out that the blasts were a part of larger conspiracy to eliminate BJP leader LK Advani, who was visiting the city for his election meeting.
In the eight-minute long conversation, 53-year-old Rafiq is heard talking with a truck contractor named Prakash about his role in the attempted killing of Advani and then an alleged plot to kill the PM, reported PTI.
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.”
In this matter, Mohammed Rafiq was convicted under various sections like criminal conspiracy and came out of jail in 2007 after serving his sentence. Ever since he has been under police surveillance and was charged under various other cases.
Since his arrest in the current matter, Rafiq has been booked under section 153A (Promoting enmity among groups) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. He has been remanded in judicial custody till 7 May.