Was Mangaluru cooker blast planned as retaliation for ban on PFI?

BENGALURU, MANGALURU: The low-intensity cooker blast in Mangaluru is suspected to be the handiwork of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to create an atmosphere of fear and as a retaliation to the ban.

The blast suspect Shariq used to work in his father’s garment store and had left his BCom course midway. It is believed that the fourth accused in the Mangaluru graffiti case, Arafat, who hails from Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district and is now in Dubai, is Shariq’s handler.

ADGP Alok Kumar taking a look at the articles seized from Shariq’s room in Mysuru which were brought to Mangaluru.

The police had recovered PDF documents from Maaz and Yasin, who were arrested by the Shivamogga Rural police for allegedly plotting a terrror attack. The PDF documents revealed information about assembling explosives, how to get in touch with ISIS operatives and Shariq’s activities.

The terror suspects would never make regular or WhatsApp calls and would download some Chinese apps to make internet calls. Only when they met face to face, Shariq would discuss about their plans. The police are also looking into whether Shariq was getting funds from abroad through his brother and other sources.

The room which Shariq had taken on rent in Mysuru.

Meanwhile, three people who were arrested in Mysuru, including the house owner, the person who gave mobile phones to Shariq and an employee of the shop, have been taken to Mangaluru. Also, explosive articles seized from Shariq’s house, including a mixer-grinder, gas cylinder, chemicals and other material have been brought to Mangaluru for further examination.