Kollam, Kerala:
A team of Bangalore police arrived in Kerala on Tuesday to arrest 2008 Bangalore blasts accused and People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Madani.
The team, led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, arrived in Kochi from where it headed to Kollam, the district where Madani is camping, police said.
Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said the team is in Kollam to arrest the PDP leader.
But sources say that the Kerala police, which had earlier assured the police team from Bangalore of all help in facilitating Madani's arrest, is now rethinking on sending extra forces.
Sources have told NDTV that the Kerala police is weighing options before facilitating Madani's arrest as it is not prepared to deploy adequate force in case of an immediate law and order breakdown. It is already tied up with security for President Pratibha Patil's visit later this week and also Independence Day-related security, sources add.
Madani enjoys huge support in the state's Muslim community. As news of the imminent arrest spread, hundreds of PDP workers gathered at Kollam, shouting slogans in protest.
Madani was listed as an accused in an additional chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Bangalore blasts, based on statements given to the police by the key accused T Nazeer.
His anticipatory bail plea was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court last week.