The Coimbatore city police have arrested six persons on the charge of plotting to kill Indu Makkal Katchi president Arjun Sampath.

The Coimbatore city police have arrested six persons on the charge of plotting to kill Indu Makkal Katchi president Arjun Sampath.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that they plotted against him for his alleged hate speeches against the minorities.

Deputy Commissioner for Law and Order Pravesh Kumar said the arrests were made based on a tip-off received recently. He told The Hindu that the plot was in the early stage, and the accused did not finalise the plan or the date to kill Mr. Sampath.

Selvapuram Inspector N. Ravi Kumar, who led the special team that arrested the accused, said those who murdered Hindu Munnani leader K.P.S. Suresh Kumar in Chennai a couple of months ago planned to kill Mr. Sampath with the help of the arrested persons.

The arrested were identified as N. Sadam Hussain, 24; A. Naushad Ahmed, 30; L. Rahamathullah, 24; M. Abdul Rashid, 26; H. Mohammad Azharudin, 27; and S. Syed Abdul Rahman, 43.

They hail from different parts of Coimbatore.

They were booked under Sections 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence or language and indulging in acts prejudicial to maintenance of peace and harmony) and 505(ii) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before the Judicial Magistrate-V in the Coimbatore Court, remanded in custody and lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison.

Inquiries revealed that four more persons from others parts of the State were involved in the plot and efforts were being made to arrest them, Mr. Ravi Kumar said.