In one of the biggest breakthroughs in terror investigation in south India, the Tamil Nadu police and the central crime branch, Bengaluru police, have stumbled upon a new terror module — “Al Muntaqim (avenger) Force” — said to be behind the recent terror attacks on Hindu right-wing organisations and leaders. The AMF, comprising members of the banned terror outfit “Al Umma” allegedly also has new faces in the hitherto unknown terror module, said a top official source. The Force, said to be inspired by the Al Qaeda is reportedly behind the April 17 Malleswaram blast in which 16 people, including 11 cops of the State Reserve Police Force, were injured and the gruesome murders of BJP Tamil Nadu general secretary V. Ramesh and Hindu Munnani state secretary Vellaiyappan in Vellore last month.
They are also allegedly behind the pipe bomb attack on the BJP leader L.K. Advani last year in Thirumangalam in which he was the main target. He luckily escaped the lethal attack. While the TN police have made some significant arrests in the cases, the five main accused — Ponne Ismail, Fakhrud-din alias “police” Fakh-ruddin from Melapalay-am in Tirunelveli district, Bilal Malik from Madurai Siddique and Basha are still at large.