CHENNAI, March 28: The Chennai police recovered 100 kg of explosives from a house in the Arumbakkam area and arrested the owner of the house, Fathima Beevi, her husband Abubacker, daughter Khader Beevi and son-in-law Syed Hussain in an early morning raid today.The four were held for harbouring three Al-Umma activists -- Ayesha, her husband Ibrahim and Zakkir Hussain -- who apparently fled the house a few days ago.
The breakthrough was made following the information given by Al-Umma acting president Tajudeen, who is currently in police custody. Tajudeen was arrested along with six others from a house in Tambaram recently. Based on the information, police went to the Arumbakkam house only to find it locked. On breaking it open, they found six suitcases, four of them containing explosives, a rexin bag containing two connected iron boxes stuffed with explosives, a small plastic side box and a rexin bag filled with explosives.
Chennai Police Commissioner P Kalimuthu informed mediapersons that Fathima Beeviwas said to be president of the Puratchi Thalaivi Magalir Narpani Manram (Revolutionary Leader (Jayalalitha) Women Welfare Forum). She was registered as a member of the AIADMK in 1991 and belonged to the party's `66th division' in the Anna Nagar area.
Kalimuthu said Fathima had ``knowingly harboured'' the absconding trio, as the police had not only publicised Ayesha's photographs but also cautioned people against letting out their houses to strangers.
The absconding Al-Umma activists contacted Fathima on March 3 through a broker for renting the top portion of the house for Rs 1,500 and an advance of Rs 50,000. They moved in on March 8. On March 17, Zakkir Hussain left the house after seeing reports in the newspapers about the arrest of six Al-Umma activists from a house at Mosque street in Vadapalani with 45 kg of explosives. He informed Ayesha that he was going out to meet his friend, and left the place on a red motorcycle (bearing a fictitious registration number) and boarded a train at Nungambakkamrailway station along with a friend, Basit. Police later recovered the bike from the station. When the pictures began appearing in the newspapers, Ayesha informed Fathima that she had to leave to meet her sister. She left the house with her husband on March 21. Police said Fathima failed to inform the authorities even after seeing the photos in the newspapers and on television.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
