NIA takes over probe in ‘petrol bomb’ attack on Raj Bhavan

In an unexpected development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has decided to probe an incident in which two petrol bombs (Molotov cocktail) were hurled by a history-sheeter outside the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan last month.

Sources said the agency has registered a case in connection with the incident.

The petrol bombs had landed near the police barricade and no damage was reported to the Raj Bhavan premises in the incident.

However, the Raj Bhavan had in a complaint alleged that assailants had attempted to barge into its campus and hurled petrol bombs in which the main entrance gate was extensively damaged.

Top police officers including the Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal had convened a press conference where CCTV camera footage was released to establish that only a lone man, identified as Karukka Vinod was involved in the attack.

The police had pointed out that Vinod was previously involved in incidents of hurling of petrol bombs at the a TASMAC liquor outlet, the Teynampet Police Station and Kamalalayam, the State BJP headquarters.

The police said he was released from jail after almost a year and within days headed to the Raj Bhavan to hurl Molotov cocktails.