Police claimed, on Friday, that they had arrested a former Al-Umma member and member of Muslim Defence Force (MDF), Abdullah Muthalif (40) in connection with the murder of Hindu Munnani functionary Suresh Kumar in Ambattur last June.

Abdullah, a native of Sivagangai, was arrested from his residence in Mannady on Thursday evening.

Kumar, was hacked to death by a gang on the evening of June 18, 2014 outside his shop near the Ambattur Old Terminus. 16 persons, including a teenager, were arrested and the motive was ascertained to be sectarian rivalry.

Police said Abdullah was among those who facilitated the rescue of Al-Umma member Imam Ali from police custody in 2002 at Thirumangalam, Madurai.