Mangaluru Blast Accused Posed As Hindu, Carried Fake Aadhaar, Says Karnataka Minister

Karnataka Health Minister Sudhakar said that the person was travelling in an auto and was mimicking that he is a Hindu. Sudhakar further noted that he was carrying an Aadhaar card for the same.

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar

Source : Twitter/ANI

Days after an autorickshaw exploded in Mangaluru, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Monday said that the accused, Mohd Sharik, travelled in an autorickshaw and posed as a Hindu. Sudhakar further noted that he carried a fake Aadhaar card.

Sudhakar called the blast an act of terror and said that the Karnataka government is looking into it from all angles. “Mangaluru blast issue is dastardly act of terror & violence. Karnataka govt looking into it from all angles. The person involved was travelling in an auto mimicking that he's Hindu & was carrying an Aadhaar card for same. Police forces found him as Md Sharik from Shivamogga,” Sudhakar told ANI.

Mangaluru blast case | Couple of months ago similar incident happened in Coimbatore. There also they planned to blast near temple. This person Md Sharik (accused)went there & met a person in Coimbatore. Police traced his movements of last 2 months:K Sudhakar, Karnataka Health min pic.twitter.com/YWJRN86IJE

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2022

“Every angle and aspect being probed. We are also finding if he (Md Sharik) has a connection with international terror organisations, banned organisations, or sleeper cells that may be active in the area since we are bordering Kerala,” ANI quoted Sudhakar as saying.

He also said, “A couple of months ago a similar incident happened in Coimbatore. There also they planned to blast near the temple. This person Md Sharik (accused)went there & met a person in Coimbatore. Police traced his movements of the last 2 months."

Earlier in the day, Karnataka ADGP Alok Kumar said that the culprit Sarik was already accused in three cases, of which in two cases he had UAPA charges against him. The top cop further said that the accused had links with a terrorist. "We can say that his acts have been inspired and influenced by some terrorist organisation which is having a global presence. So, it is due to that," the Karnataka ADGP said, as the news agency ANI quoted.

Karnataka ADGP Alok revealed that the premises, where Sarik lived, were searched and the police found a lot of explosive materials, matchboxes, nut bolts, and circuits. "Premises were searched and a lot of explosives material, matchboxes, nut bolts, and circuits were found. We've come to know the sources of it because some purchases were made online & some others offline. We're working on it," said Karnataka ADGP.

"We've formed five different teams and they're working on it. Four locations in Thirthahalli town of Shivamogga district and one place in Mangaluru city were searched this morning. Yesterday two places were searched. So, we have searched seven places and seized some electronic devices," the top cop added.

He further revealed that Sharik's immediate handler was a person named Arafat Ali, who is accused in two cases. He was in touch with Mussavir Hussain, an accused in the Al-Hind module case, Abdul Matin Taha was one of the accused, as per the information he's the main handler of Sharik. But Sharik was in touch with three others, who are yet to be identified, said ADGP Alok Kumar.

(With ANI Inputs)