Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Youth arrested in Mata's ashram

Staff Reporter

Poses as the public relations officer of Doordarshan

Thiruvananthapuram: The city police have arrested a 24-year-old youth on the charge of attempting to gain access into a restricted area inside the ashram of Mata Amritanandamayi at Kaimanam by posing as a Central Government employee.

The police identified the youth as Niyaz, a resident of Kanjirapally in Kottayam. The police are investigating whether Niyaz has links with any religious fundamentalist organisation in the State.

Niyaz entered the VIP area of the ashram by posing as the public relations officer of Doordarshan.

Inside the VIP area, Niyaz showed the ashram volunteers a reference letter purportedly written by Rajan Babu, a former MLA. "This is to certify that Niyaz is a Central Government employee. Give him all VIP facilities," the letter said.

The volunteers became suspicious when Niyaz made enquiries about the location of the police aid post inside the ashram. Niyaz also told some volunteers that he was a field officer of the Central Intelligence Bureau. The volunteers brought the matter to the notice of P. Ajith Kumar, junior Sub-Inspector, Karamana police station.

When questioned by the police, Niyaz produced the `Doordarshan identity card' to prove his bona fides. The police found that the seal on the card was that of the Kerala Government. Later, Niyaz told the police that he had forged the card and also the signature of the former MLA, an official said.

According to the police, Niyaz procured the letter pad of the former MLA through another person, Gopalakrishnan.

The police still have no clue why Niyaz used forged documents to gain access to a restricted area inside the ashram. Niyaz reportedly told the police that he was not a devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi.

Mata Amritanandamayi was in the ashram when the incident occurred. The police have stepped up security in and around the ashram.

The police said Niyaz would be produced before the court on the charges of forging the Doordarshan identity card and stealing the letter pad of the former MLA.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Left Democratic Front improves its share of votes in 125 Assembly constituencies
Rs.45-lakh property dispute settled
Youth arrested in Mata's ashram
Honour for city schools
`IUML responsible for UDF defeat in polls'
Visa cheating: two arrested
Steps to check stray dog menace
Around the City
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu