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Kerala: Police find Al Qaeda, Taliban CDs at PF leader's residence

Last updated on: July 09, 2010 16:25 IST

The Kerala police have found several incriminating material at the residence of a leader of the Popular Front, the organisation allegedly involved in the horrific attack on Professor T D Joseph.

A group of eight persons, members of the Popular Front, had waylaid Joseph and chopped off his right palm in Muvattupuzha on Sunday. Joseph had prepared an internal question paper for second year BCom students of Newman's College in Thodupuzha which was allegedly defamatory to Prophet Mohammed.

The police team, which raided the residence of Popular Front leader Kunjumon at Muvattupuzha, allegedly found several CDs.

According to a senior police officer, the CDs contained footage of the training programmes conducted by the Al Qaeda and the Taliban for disaffected youth.

The CDs also showed acts of barbaric torture committed by the Al Qaeda and the Taliban, like beheading their victims or chopping off their hands, said sources.

The police also found several documents including brochures and leaflets which called on Popular Front cadres to unite to promote the activities of the organisation.

Sources told rediff.com that the state police have already informed central agencies including the Research and Analysis Wing, the Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigation Agency about the material found in the PF leader's house.

The police also found a revolver during a raid on another Popular Front leader's residence, said sources.

The police are continuing their raids on the residences of other Popular Front leaders and cadres.

A case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against Kunjumon, who is absconding. The police suspect that Kunjumon's car could have been used to transport the assailants who escaped in another van after the attack. Kunjumon was also an accused in the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist Kaladharan.

On Thursday night, a rifle, fake identity cards and SIM cards were seized by the police from the residence of another PFI activist, Ayub. A case has been registered against him.

Meanwhile, the police have also sent out lookout notices against three accused in the attack case. In Kochi, police took into custody a youth who tried to gain entry into the hospital room where Joseph was admitted to after surgery.

Arun Lakshman in Thiruvananthapuram