The Hindu : Front Page : Maudhany to be admitted to Coimbatore hospital

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Friday, Jun 16, 2006

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Maudhany to be admitted to Coimbatore hospital

V.S. Palaniappan

Prison authorities asked to identify facilities, provide security

TRIAL NEARING COMPLETION: People's Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Maudhany, an undertrial in the serial blasts case, being produced in a Coimbatore court. — File photo: K. Ananthan

Coimbatore : The Tamil Nadu Government has directed the prison authorities here to inspect the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and identify a safe block for admitting the Kerala- based People's Democratic Party leader and undertrial Abdul Nasser Maudhany.

Mr. Maudhany is in the Central Prison here for over eight years in connection with the serial blasts that rocked the textile city on February 14, 1998, killing 58 persons and injuring many others. The trial is nearing completion before the Special Court for Bomb Blasts Cases.

The State Government late on Wednesday night directed the prison authorities to identify the facilities and make foolproof security arrangements for his admission.

Achuthanandan's request

According to sources, the State Government had conceded the request Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan made to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. Karunanidhi recently, seeking good medical care to Mr. Maudhany on humanitarian grounds. His request for bail/parole was left to the discretion of judiciary.

The Tamil Nadu Police arrested Mr. Maudhany in Kochi on March 31, 1998. He is among the 166 facing trial. Mr. Maudhany has been accused of providing shelter to two blast case accused and of being involved in the conspiracy hatched by the banned outfit, Al-Umma, which reportedly masterminded the serial blasts.

Mr. Maudhany has had an artificial limb fitted on his right leg, which was injured in a bomb attack in Kerala prior to his arrest. He has been seeking bail/ parole for replacing the artificial limb and medical attention for high blood sugar, blood pressure, drastic weight loss and disc prolapse. He had moved the Coimbatore Trial Court, the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court on many occasions for bail but in vain.

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