Gang members planning to instigate violence held

Three members of a gang, including a Sri Lankan, planning to instigate violence, were arrested today by a special police team here.

Four others managed to escape.

The team, led by ADSP Velladurai, seized a sickle, knife and mobile phones from the gang that operated through a WhatsApp group, police said.

Their message read: "with the aim of courageous death and action against those who spoke ill of God," they said.

Those arrested were identified as Mohammed Rifass, Mufarris Ahamed and Abubakkar while those who escaped were Sheikh Dawood, Hameedu Abbas, Abdur Razik and Sajith.

Cases were registered under various IPC sections and Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act against the members.

Police said Mohammed Rifass, who belonged to Sri Lanka, was arrested in 2014 for smuggling ganja to the island republic and jailed for three years.

The gang was allegedly trying to instigate violence with their banner reading 'veera maranam' (courageous death), they said.

They had been operating for the past one year and their existence came to light while investigating the murder of a BJP functionary Veerabahu by the special police team and special crime prevention wing, police said.

The gang members had held their first meeting at Muthupettai in Tiruvarur district and planned to hold the second meeting at Keelakarai near here today when they were arrested.

According to SP, Om Prakash Meena, the gang members had deleted the WhatsApp messages.

Police teams have been deployed to nab the other members.

Efforts were also on to impound their passports and find out if they were getting any financial assistance.

Police also said the members were planning to buy a gun for each of them.