Tamil Nadu is by and large considered a peaceful state compared to other parts of India. But it has had its moments where Islamic terrorists unleashed terror, thanks to the patronage given by the DMK to separatist and terror elements. One such terror element was Ahmed Ali, who goes by the moniker Palani Baba.
Born to Mohammad Ali Khatija Beevi, Ahmed Ali was born in Pudhu Ayakkudi, a village that lies four kilometres from Palani in Dindigul district. After the death of his parents he was raised by his maternal uncle Abdul Rahman who made him study till college. However, he started engaging in nefarious activities very early on in college and became an embarrassment to the family.
Islamic fundamentalist groups gained foot in Tamil Nadu during the 70s and 80s. In 1986, Ahmed Ali formed the All India Jihad Committee, an Islamist fundamentalist organization. Intelligence agencies had reported that he was coordinating with All India Milli Council, which supposedly has Saudi-Wahabhi links.
During MGR’s rule, Ahmed Ali was banned from entering the premises of Fort St. George which brought him to the lime light. Sensing the opportunity, the DMK under Karunanidhi used him to create trouble for MGR. The Week quoted that Palani Baba flaunted his close ties with the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and he claimed close ties with the LTTE. The year 1990 saw the unprecedent rise of Ahmed Ali, with unconditional support from DMK. It is to be noted that Ahmed Ali addressed MGR in singular in whichever public meeting he spoke. Dressed like Yasar Arafat, Ahmed Ali made vitriolic speeches against Hindus and was instrumental in fomenting violence against the Hindus especially in the Coimbatore region.
However, at a later point in time, the dog would come to bite back its master as a result of which the DMK too distanced itself from him.
Ahmed Ali was involved in various killings of Hindus in Coimbatore. In 1990, Israeli intelligence arrested a Palestinian student who was studying in south India. During interrogation it was revealed that there was a possible presence of internationally linked Islamic terror cells in Coimbatore. However, the Israeli warnings were rejected by local police and intelligence.
In 1993 another group Al Ummah was formed as a fraternal group of AIJC, which became the most active jihadist force in TN, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Al Ummah had connectivity with Directrate General of Forces Intelligence of Bangladesh (DGFI), Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Student
Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). It is accused of bombing the RSS Chennai Karyalaya killing 11 persons. It was also responsible for the 1998 Coimbatore bombings when powerful bombs exploded in multiple parts of the city on 14th February 1998, threatening the security of the then Deputy Prime Minister and BJP veteran L K Advani and Union Minster Murli Manohar Joshi. An investigation conducted revealed that, the banned Muslim fundamentalist outfit Al-Umma, headed by SA Basha was found to be responsible for the blasts. The aim was to assassinate LK Advani and Imam Ali, an expert in bomb making was involved in the blasts.
He was one of the prime reason why Islamic fundamentalism spread in the state. He and other Islamic terrorists like SA Basha made Tamil Nadu into a hotbed of Islamic terrorism for some time especially during the volatile time of the razing down of the disputed structure at Ram Janmabhoomi.
Ahmed Ali also rubbed shoulders with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and in fact deputed Kunnangudi Hanifa, his confidante to be the party’s treasurer.
Ahmed Ali was hacked to death on the night of January 28, 1997 by 6 people when he was about to get into his car parked outside his house. The motive for the murder was said to be Ahmed Ali’s vitriolic speeches against Hinduism and the subsequent murder of two Hindu Munnani activists Manickam and Selvaraj, on 10 January 1997 at Dindigul. However, some allege that he was killed for hitting on another man’s wife although there exists no proof for this claim.
Today, Ahmed Ali is hailed by all separatist and minority appeasing parties like Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and not to forget the DMK.
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