Karnataka: Islamic Resistance Council Claims Responsibility For Mangaluru Autorickshaw Blast

While top police officers remained tight-lipped, police sources said they are verifying the origin of this information

A little-known outfit Islamic Resistance Council has claimed responsibility for the Mangaluru blast

Source : Special arrangement

A little-known outfit Islamic Resistance Council (IRC) has claimed responsibility for the Mangaluru blast on November 19, saying one of its 'Mujahid brother Mohammed Shariq' attempted to attack a 'Hindutva Temple in Kadri.' While top police officers remained tight-lipped, police sources said they are verifying the origin of this information.

"We the Islamic Resistance Council (IRC) would like to convey the message: One of our Mujahid brother Mohammed Shariq attempted to attack the Hindutva Temple in Kadri (in Dakshina Kannada district), a bastion of the Saffron terrorists in Mangaluru," the message which has gone viral in social message said.

It further said, "Although this operation didn't meet its objectives, we still consider it a success from a tradecraft and tactics point of view as the brother in spite of being wanted and being pursued by the state and central intelligence agencies, was not only able to successfully evade them but even prepared and mounted an attack."

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavara Bommai said the suspect who allegedly carried out a bomb explosion in Mangaluru had terror links as he had travelled to various places, including Coimbatore in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. According to the preliminary information, it was an LED-linked instrument, the Chief Minister told reporters.

The Chief Minister further said more details emerged when the police tracked the original address of the suspect and the locations where he had stayed.

On November 19, Mohammed Shariq, who was at large, was travelling in an autorickshaw with a cooker that exploded in Mangaluru injuring him and the driver. Police called the blast an act of terror.

According to police sources, a cooker fitted with detonator, wires and batteries were used to trigger the blast. After the explosion, the interiors of the autorickshaw were badly damaged.