MANGALURU: The suspect in the low-intensity blast which occurred in an autorickshaw here on Saturday evening has been identified as Shariq, who hails from Home Minister Araga Jnanendra’s home district Shivamogga and is believed to have close links with the global terror outfit ISIS. He had been missing from Shivamogga for some time now.
Two months ago, Public TV had reported how Shivamogga was turning into a haven for ISIS operatives who were conspiring to carry out terror activities in different parts of the state. The Shivamogga police had acted quickly and arrested some of the operatives recently.
The investigation revealed that the arrested terror suspects had links in Mangaluru and Mysuru and now have evidence of their links with ISIS.
The Shivamogga Rural police had filed an FIR against four suspects under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including the kingpin Yasin, an electronics engineering student. They have also collected evidence of Yasin giving training to others in assembling explosives and his direct links with ISIS operatives.
While the main accused Shariq hails from Soppugudde in Thirthahalli taluk, the second accused Maaz hails from Mangaluru, Syed Yasin Bailu from Siddeshwara Nagar in Shivamogga city. Shariq had been absconding ever since Yasin and Maaz were arrested.
