THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: (AMN) People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nasser Madani was on Tuesday taken into custody by the Karnataka and Kerala police jointly. He was arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Bangalore bomb blasts. After his arrest he was taken to Bangalore by air.
The PDP vice chairman Poonthura Siraj told media persons at the airport that his party would observe a "black day" on Wednesday in protest against the leader arrest.
We will be observing tomorrow as a black day because Madani was denied his fundamental rights and the Karnataka police could have waited till the apex court order comes," he said.
Before being taken inside into airport Madani asserted his innocence and appealed to his followers to maintain peace. "I request my supporters not to make it a Hindu-Muslim issue and maintain peace at all cost," said Madani.
Few PDP supporters were arrested at Karungapally for stoning vehicles in protest against the arrest.
Earlier, Madani called a press conference at his residence-cum-party headquarters at Anwarassery near Kollam, and announced that he would surrender before a court after finishing his Zuhar Namaz.
In the press conference he denied his involvement in the 2008 bombing in which one person was killed and 15 were injured. He said that it was a political conspiracy hatched against him.
"Once I am there in Karnataka, you should not be surprised if my name features in a case in Gujarat or even the Mumbai bomb blasts and even in the World Trade Centre blast," he quipped.