Horowpothana NTJ group leader has fled the country: Police

By Srinath Prasanna Jayasuriya   

The person called ‘Abu Bakkar’ who is believed to be the Horowpothana and Kebithigollewa coordinator of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) Organization had fled to a Middle Eastern country, the police said.   

He had left the country two days after the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, according to preliminary investigations, a senior police 
officer said.   

This has been revealed upon interrogation of the suspects arrested from Kebithigollewa and Horowpothana in the Anuradhapura district. These suspects arrested from the area are Lebbe Thambi Jesmin of Weerasole College in Horowpothana, Seynul Abdeen who is a teacher of Ziraj Nagar Arabic school and Mohideen Bawa Naufer who is the Economic Development officer and Sakiriya who is a farmer in Kebithigollewa.   

The escapee is said to had involved organising activities of the NTJ in these areas. About 400 have attended his preaching sessions, as revealed. Some have been transported by buses from Kattankudi with the help of Zaharan Hashim who is the leader of Thowheed Jamaath. They had been given dry rations worth Rs 10,000 each. Even dairy cattle had been given to some members.     

He had left the country two days after the Easter Sunday bomb attacks