Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Kasargod, Jan 16: Sources claim that Tasleem alias Muhataseem (38) who was arrested by the Delhi police on the charge of planning to eliminate certain Sangh Parivar leaders in Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru was a well known face in BJP circles. Photos of Tasleem in the company of BJP leaders of Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod, which have surfaced, are making the rounds in social media and this has given rise to suspicion, speculations, and questions within the party and followers of its leaders.

The special team of Delhi police has claimed that Tasleem had drawn up plan to murder some Hindu leaders in Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod districts, and that he has contacts with a terrorist organization.

The plan hatched by him was to eliminate Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader, Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, as well as Jagadish Shenava and Sharan Pumpwell, who are leaders of Hindu outfits. The report received by Karnataka police from Delhi states that the gang has also planned to execute this murder plan through suicide attack.

Being a leader of BJPs minority Morcha in Kasargod, Tasleem had close contacts with BJP and Hindu leaders from here and Karnataka. He was also identified with Muslim Rashtriya Manch, a wing of RSS. The pictures of Tasleem sharing stage with several BJP leaders of Kasargod are getting circulated briskly. In one of the pictures, he is shown sharing close bond with BJP leader, Rahim Uchil , vice president of BJP’s state minority Morcha.

After the arrest of Tasleem, the police have now been keeping constant vigil on the leaders. Being a member of RSS- controlled Muslim Rashtriya Manch, Tasleem’s arrest has raised many speculations among the followers of Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and other Hindu leaders. Doubts have arisen about the veracity of the theory of a conspiracy of eliminating Hindu leaders having been hatched by a person having close links with RSS and BJP. Tasleem’s frequent foreign trips also are now under scanner to get information whether he was in the contact of ISIS or any other terrorist organizations.

Rahim Uchil clarified that Tasleem had participated in a BJP minority Morcha programme at Kasargod where he was also present about three years back . "Kasargod district BJP president was also present. He had raised some questions about some wrong notions he had about BJP, which we had clarified. He used to make calls even after he went abroad, and I used to answer them. I am surprised at his arrest. I am utterly confused about whom to trust and whom not to," he said.

After the death of a Qazi of Chembarika in Kerala a few years back, Tasleem had taken most of the office bearers of BJP minority Morcha to the residence of the Qazi, seeking their support to put pressurize on the concerned to hold in-depth probe into the Qazi's death. During the protest held in relation to this incident, he had honoured BJP leaders. He was actively involved with bringing youngsters together and seeking votes for BJP with their support in the district, it is learnt.