India’s Intelligence Bureau and Kerala Police have started to dig into Kerala connections of All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader and parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen after he was arrested by Sri Lankan Police on April 24 in connection with 2019 Easter Sunday attacks that killed 279 people and injured hundreds. As per intelligence officials, Rishad’s father hailed from Padna in Kasaragod and he was in touch with a few persons in the region. “Kerala police will be looking into the links of arrested Sri Lankan political leader in Kerala to confirm the reports,” said Kerala State Police Chief Loknath Behera. Bathiudeen was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). His brother Riyaj Bathiudeen, who was arrested in April 2020 but released later due to lack of evidence, was also arrested again.

Source: The Nation April 30, 2021 09:00 UTC