The police on Saturday laid siege to camp of the People’s Democratic Party leader, Mr Abdul Nasser Madani, in Kollam as a prelude to arresting him in connection with the Bengaluru blasts of 2008.
According to police sources, his arrest was likely to take place either late on Saturday night or on Sunday.
A warrant had been issued in Mr Madani’s name by a Karnataka court after he was made an accused in the blasts case.
A team from the Bengaluru police has been camping in Kerala for the last two days to arrest him.
The Kollam police launched its operation to take the PDP leader into custody at 11.30 am on Saturday by clamping prohibitory orders in Sasthamcotta and Anwarasserry panchayats where party workers had thronged in the last few days creating a tense situation.
Soon after that a strong police posse led by the Kollam SP, Ms Harshita Attalluri, reached Answarassery and chased PDP workers from the streets near the Yateem Khana where Mr Madani was staying. The police undertook a lathicharge and burst teargas shells to clear the area.