Tamil Nadu Car Blast: TN Govt Entrusts Probe To NIA After Police Invokes UAPA

In a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister M.K Stalin, the state government ?also announced raising a special police force to foil sabotage and bolster its intelligence wing.?

International connections suspected, security beefed up

The move is considering the possibilities of links transcending Tamil Nadu borders and the likelihood of international connections emerging during the investigation of the explosion case, an official release here said.

As part of measures to further strengthen security, the government said it would set up new police stations at the three localities of Karumbu Kadai, Sundarapuram and Koundampalayam in Coimbatore.

During review of the overall law and order and security scenario, the government decided to install additional high-tech surveillance cameras in key cities of the state, including Coimbatore. Stalin directed officials to post additional personnel in the intelligence wing and protect and encourage informers.

The case

On October 23, 75-kg explosives were seized in Coimbatore from the residence of a man who was killed after a gas cylinder exploded.

The explosion happened while he was moving past a temple on a car in Tamil Nadu's western textile city and he had allegedly tried to evade a police check post.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been invoked in the Coimbatore car explosion case and five men have been arrested so far and the state police is currently investigating the matter. In 1998, Coimbatore witnessed bomb blasts.

(With inputs from PTI)