Shariq had planned something big, luckily damage was limited: Jnanendra

MANGALURU: The Mangaluru cooker blast accused Mohammed Shariq had planned something big, but fortunately, it did not turn out that way, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said on Wednesday.

The Home Minister, who arrived in Mangaluru and held a review meeting with top police officers, said, “If the cooker had blasted in a thickly populated location, the damage would have been more.”

Addressing a press conference along with DG&IGP Praveen Sood and Mangaluru City Commissioner N Shashikumar, he said, “We have examined the site of the incident at Naguri. Shariq was involved in many cases and had got trained in mobile phone repair. He had travelled to Coimbatore, Kanyakumari and other places. Several police teams have been sent to different places to gathering information and evidences,”.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra briefing the action taken by the department to medias at the press meet.

“Police have been looking for witnesses and we are sure Shariq will be convicted in the coming days. More information will come out only after he recovers. We have suggested to the doctors to give quality treatment as he is the main accused in the case. Over eight medical experts are treating him. Hence, we are expecting that he will recover soon, and the investigation can continue”, Jnanendra said.

Further, the Home Minister said that the department is concentrating on uprooting religious fanaticism. “We anticipate that central agencies will also join the investigation. Our department has taken the incident seriously and we will reveal the kingpins and terror links behind the act soon”.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra chairing a meeting DG&IGP Praveen Sood, Mangaluru Police Commissioner N Shashikumar and other senior officers in Mangaluru on Wednesday.

Referring to the injured autorickshaw driver Purushotham Pujari, Jnanendra said he had visited him in hospital and added that the government will bear all his medical expenses. Discussions are also being held on extending financial support to the auto driver’s family. “I will discuss it with the Chief Minister and we will take a decision”, he said. The minister also handed over Rs 50,000 as relief to the family of the auto driver during the visit.

DG&IGP Praveen Sood said, “The investigation in the case is ongoing, but we cannot reveal his links or sources of income at this point. Our first priority is saving the accused’s life and we have already given information to the NIA.  Central agencies too have joined the investigation and the police from other states too are cooperating. Our police teams have spread out to gather more evidence. The ultimate goal of fundamentalist forces is to destabilise the country and disrupt peace”.

Sood also urged the public not to treat those people who are being questioned in the case as accused.

Praveen Sood requested the public not to treat all the persons who are being questoned as accused.

Mangaluru City police Commissioner Shashikumar said, “We have investigated four people so far and raided eight places in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Shivamogga. We have not arrested any of the accused in connection with the case so far”.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Shashikumar briefing reporters about the investigation.

Western Zone IGP Dr Chandragupta, Mangaluru City DCP Anshu Kumar, Mangaluru Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Sonavane and other senior officers were present in the meeting.