Coimbatore/Chennai: Miscreants hurled petrol bombs at the Coimbatore CPI (M) district office near Gandhipuram on Saturday morning, but there were no human casualties.
According to police, the incident happened around 5.45 am after the party office car driver Anandhan 50, went for his morning stroll. He regularly stays at the party office.
Fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident, in which an ambassador car belonging to party and parked at the office premises was partially damaged in the fire.
Miscreants have followed driver Anandan for the past few days, recorded his movements and have waited for the right time to hurl the bomb early today, police said.
Anandhan sensed smoke smell coming out of the office premises and at once he reached closer to the party office on his return when he was shocked to see pieces of broken beer bottle and burnt wicks. A front door of the car was damaged in the fire.
Immediately Anandhan informed Rathinapuri police and party members; on information, deputy commissioner Lakshmi rushed to the spot along with a police team. They found two petrol bombs, one using a beer bottle and the other placed in a plastic bottle.
Police started collecting the CCTV footages recorded in the camera installed at the nearby houses and a commercial outlet, as the party office has no surveillance camera.
Preliminary investigations revealed that neighbors have noticed youth on two motorcycles passed the party office stretch several times for the last few days.
Following the incident City police Commissioner Amal Raj directed deployment of police security to the party offices, while security was immediately beefed up with armed policemen deployed at the district BJP, RSS and Hindu Munnani offices in the city. Three special teams have been formed and further investigations are on.
The CPI (M) State secretary G Ramakrishnan, party's Coimbatore district secretary V Ramamurthy, Opposition leader M.K. Stalin, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan, MDMK founder Vaiko and other party leaders have condemned the incident.
Leaders flay petrol bomb attack on Left office
Leaders on Saturday condemned the hurling of petrol bombs on CPM office in Coimbatore and urged the state to arrest the culprits immediately and take stern action on them.
DMK working president M.K. Stalin, who flayed the incident said the state should not be silent spectator to the threats by evil forces and asserted that exchange of views in a democratic manner alone could lead to constructive politics.
Condemning the attack, TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar urged the state government to identify the outfit behind the incident and take appropriate action.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said such attacks on political parties are continuing and police should investigate the incident and punish the culprits, whoever it could be. CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan blamed the policies of the centre for such attacks and charged that the Union government is supporting groups which indulge in violence under the garb of cow protection, moral policing and protecting religion.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan said communal forces are trying to gain foothold in the state through violent activities and asked the state government not to be complacent. Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T. Velmurugan said the attack had taken place at the heart of the city and it is a precursor to more dangers.
