Unheard of group claims responsibility for Mangaluru blast; police unsure

BENGALURU: In a fresh twist to the Mangaluru cooker blast case, a hitherto unheard of group, which identified itself as the Islamic Resistance Council, has claimed responsibility for the suspected terror act.

The autorickshaw in which the pressure IED went off.

The group claimed that their target was a temple in Kadri, Mangaluru, “which is a bastion of saffron terrorism”, but the bomb exploded before reaching there. The group said the attack was planned in response to mob lynching incidents, oppressive laws and interference in religion. It also had a threat message to ADGP Alok Kumar.

However, police sources told Public TV that they have not come across any such organisation. “There are Islamic resistance groups associated with Hamas and ISIS, but our investigation so far has not revealed anything about a Islamic Resistance Council”, they said.

The group claimed that a temple in Kadri was its target.

The sources added that while the claims will be investigated, it could be the handiwork of some third party to divert the probe.

The NIA is conducting a search on the house of Shariq’s aunt at Maruthi Layout near Dasarahalli in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is searching a house in Maruthi Layout near Dasarahalli in Amruthahalli police limits after getting information that the Mangaluru blast accused Mohammed Shariq stayed in Benglauru along with Mateen Taha, another terror suspect who is absconding.

The house belongs to Shariq’s aunt and both she and her husband are being questioned.