No breakthrough yet in BJP office-bearer attack case

RAMANATHAPURAM

The district police, who have been taking strenuous efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the case of attack on BJP office-bearer R. Veerabagu, suspect the role of a ‘fundamental group’ as the victim had no enmity with anyone.

After busting a fundamental group on Sunday when its members visited Kilakarai for a huddle and arresting three members of the group, the police suspected the group’s involvement in the attack, but found that the four members of the group arrested so far had no role in the attack, which took place on the outskirts of the town on the night of March 29.

“There is pressure from all sides to crack the case at the earliest, but we are taking our own time to nab the real accused,” Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena said.

The police wanted to arrest the accused with solid proof. A special team had gone to Chennai looking for a person, who might throw some light on the case, he said.

As there was no personal motive for the attack, the police suspected that it could be the handiwork of a fundamental or radical group to create scare and disturb communal harmony. Mr. Veerabagu survived the murderous attack, thanks to the timely arrival of two government buses, the SP said.

The assailants, who had neatly planned the attack after taking the victim to an isolated place, took a hasty retreat when a bus arrived on the road flashing lights. Immediately, the victim attempted to board the bus, but the vehicle did not stop. In a short while, there was another bus and it stopped after he stood on the middle of the road, the SP said.

Meanwhile, Additional SP S. Velladurai and an Inspector of Police interacted with Mr. Veerabagu, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Madurai, to ascertain some facts.