Who Were Arrested in the 2024 Puducherry Bomb Blast Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NIA arrests two suspects in the Villianur bomb blast case.
- Extensive searches conducted at multiple locations.
- Evidence of witness intimidation revealed.
- Ongoing investigations to uncover broader conspiracies.
- Importance of protecting the identity of witnesses emphasized.
New Delhi, Sep 18 (NationPress) The NIA has apprehended two individuals in connection with the 2023 Villianur bomb blast case following thorough searches across four sites in Puducherry, which included the Central Prison of the Union Territory.
The suspects, known as Heram alias Karthi alias TR and Udhayakumar alias Kumar, were taken into custody for allegedly disclosing sensitive information, such as the names and other details of protected witnesses involved in the case where political figure Senthil Kumaran was tragically murdered, as stated by the NIA.
Coordinated operations were executed at Central Prison Kalapet and Yanam Prison, alongside two additional locations. During these searches, the NIA teams confiscated mobile devices, SIM cards, and various incriminating documents that revealed the identities of protected witnesses.
According to the NIA, on that unfortunate evening around 9:30 p.m., six assailants on motorcycles threw a homemade bomb to incapacitate the victim before brutally attacking him with machetes and knives in Villianur.
The investigation has uncovered that the two detained suspects collaborated with others, including the main accused Nithyanandam alias Nithi, to acquire and distribute the names, identities, and mobile numbers of the protected witnesses.
Nithi, along with 12 accomplices, was charged by the NIA on September 21, 2023. While Nithi remains in Yanam Prison, the other suspects are currently held at Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry.
Recent intelligence reports indicated that Nithi and his associates illicitly accessed the identities of the protected witnesses related to the bomb blast and murder case.
This information was purportedly utilized to intimidate and manipulate witnesses, aiming to obstruct the legal process and undermine justice.
The NIA's investigation continues to reveal the broader criminal conspiracy behind this killing and to identify individuals who violated Section 17 of the NIA Act in conjunction with Section 44 of the UA(P) Act, 1967, thereby compromising the safety of protected witnesses.