Mangaluru autorickshaw blast accused’s handler is in Dubai, says police officer

Alok Kumar, ADGP (Law and Order), says police have secured four persons — one from Ooty in Tamil Nadu, two from Mysuru and one from Mangaluru in Karnataka — for questioning

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar said on Monday, November 21, that autorickshaw blast accused Mohammed Shariq’s ‘immediate handler’, who has been identified as Arafat Ali, is in Dubai, but is absconding. Ali is an accused in a case registered in Mangaluru in November 2020.

Shariq is undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Mangaluru for burn injuries suffered in the low-intensity explosion on November 19.

Speaking to mediapersons in the office of Mangaluru Police Commissioner, Mr. Kumar said that the suspect might have visited Mangaluru earlier on November 10 for a survey before carrying out the explosion.

Mr. Kumar said that five police teams are investigating the Mangaluru blast. Police have secured four persons — one from Ooty in Tamil Nadu, two from Mysuru and one from Mangaluru in Karnataka — for questioning.

“We have searched seven places, including in Mangaluru, Mysuru and Shivamogga, as part of the investigation,” the ADGP said adding that searches were conducted at four places in Shivamogga, one in Mangaluru and two in Mysuru on Monday, November 21.

He said that three family members of Shariq identified him at the hospital in Mangaluru on November 21. The family members of the accused were contacted after checking his mobile phone.

The family members, who are three women, told police that they had advised him earlier to stay away from criminal activities, the ADGP said.