Coimbatore: Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): A man was charred to death after a gas cylinder exploded in a car in the Ukkadam area of Coimbatore on Sunday morning. According to the police, the explosion took place near the Kottai Easwaran Temple early in the morning. The Fire department rushed to the spot and doused the flames.
Hours after the incident, state police chief C Sylendra Babu said there has been "good progress" in the probe and stated that the possibility of a National Investigation Agnecy (NIA) inquiry into the matter will be known after the conclusion of the investigation. The deceased identified as Jemisha Mubeen (25) had been earlier enquired by the NIA but there has been no case against him nor has there been any "adverse notice," the top official said.
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Addressing reporters later in the day, Babu said a case has been registered at the Ukkadam police station in connection with the incident and a probe was on. "We found in that vehicle nails, marbles and other stuff which are being examined by the forensic department. Following a search at his house we recovered some low intensive explosives--potassium nitrate, aluminium powder, charcoal, sulphur-- used in making country bombs," he said.
These seemed to be meant for some "future" plans, he said but added only a thorough probe will reveal what that could be. There are no cases against the deceased but those having link with him over the past few years have been brought under the probe ambit, Babu added.
Asked if the NIA had earlier held "searches" against Mubeen, the top official replied in the affirmative. "Some enquiry happened.. (there was) no adverse notice (against Mubeen)," he said. Security has already been beefed up across the state ahead of the Deepavali festival and extra vigil will be mounted in Coimbatore, he said.
Police said that following the incident all the shops near the Kottai Easwaran Temple were closed and security was beefed up in the area. According to police sources, tension is prevailing in the area as it is a communally sensitive zone.
