‘Do Not Circulate Unverified Videos And Claims About Mangaluru Blast Accused,’ Appeals City Police Commissioner Shashikumar

In the Mangaluru blast case, there had recently been videos of two individuals in front of a wine shop moving around that were circulated by various media outlets and social media users, claiming to be that of the accused.

Today, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Shashikumar while addressing the media said, ‘some unverified and random video where two boys have come near a wine shop and travelling on road is getting circulated on media and social media. The video has no connection with the case. It is not the accused who is seen in the video and so I appeal to all to not share any kind of unverified information’.

Responding to questions of the condition of the accused Shariq, Shashikumar said, ‘Doctors haven't given any clear report of his progress. Treatment is ongoing, but since it is a burn injury, it will take longer. But the victim Purushottam Poojary is improving and should be discharged in few days’.

The display picture of the accused with the forged name Premraj was that of the Adiyogi statue of Comibatore’s Isha Foundation. But, if the centre was on his radar ’will be found on investigation as we are yet to interrogate him,’ added Shashikumar, saying that the angle will be looked into.

‘Our IO is looking into it. It is a comprehensive investigation. But we first wanted his identity to be established which has been done yesterday,” he said.

Given his medical condition, the Mangaluru police had summoned his family who arrived to the city on Monday (21 November) and confirmed his identity.

Mohammed Shariq hails from Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district in Karnataka. He was travelling in an autorickshaw with a pressure cooker fitted with detonator, wires and batteries, when it exploded near Naguri, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, on Saturday (19 November).

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar on Monday said the police are trying to find out the 24-year old's links with people outside Karnataka.

'His handler was Abdul Mateen Taha from Suddaguntepalya (in Bengaluru) on whom the National Investigation Agency has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh,' the ADGP said, as reported.

Taha was the 'main handler'. He along with Khwaja and Mohammed Pasha from Tamil Nadu were booked under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Suddaguntepalya in Bengaluru in 2020.

(With inputs from PTI)