Suspense over PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani's arrest in the Bangalore serial blasts case continued for the second day on Wednesday as a Karnataka Police team camped here awaiting green signal from their Kerala counterparts.
Kerala Police said they would extend support for the arrest but feared it could lead to law and order problems which, they said, should be taken into account by both sides.
"We are looking into the matter. There is no reluctance on our part to extend help," DGP Jacob Punnose said.
State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the DGP and the Home Secretary were not officially communicated by the Karnataka authorities on sending the police team.
He, however, said the state government would give the support required by the Karnataka Police and was prepared to face any law and order problem arising out of the arrest.
Intelligence reports also said radical groups like Popular Front of India, under the scanner for its role in the case of chopping off the hand of college lecturer T J Joseph, could exploit the situation to fan trouble.
Joseph was attacked allegedly by PFI activists while returning home from Church on July 4, for preparing a question paper with 'derogatory' references to Prophet Mohammad.
{{/usCountry}}Joseph was attacked allegedly by PFI activists while returning home from Church on July 4, for preparing a question paper with 'derogatory' references to Prophet Mohammad.
{{/usCountry}}PDP workers continued to pour in at Madani's camp at Anwarssery near here pledging solidarity with their leader.
PDP working chairman Poonthura Siraj told reporters that Madani was suspected to have H1N1 infection and sought the Kerala government's help for his detailed medical examination.
A team of Karnataka Police led by Circle Inspector N H Siddappa arrived here yesterday afternoon armed with the arrest warrant after the Karnataka High Court rejected Madani's anticipatory bail in the case last week.
Security across the state, already beefed up in view of the three-day visit of President Pratibha Patil from tomorrow and Independence Day celebrations, has been further tightened.
Madani has been listed as an accused in the case relating to Bangalore blasts on July 25, 2008 which had claimed a woman's life and left 20 others injured.
The PDP leader was the main accused in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case in 1998, in which 58 people were killed, hours before BJP leader L K Advani was to address an election meeting. Madani was however acquitted by the trial court in the case.