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Shariq and his accomplices were working under the direction of one, Arafat Ali, who has been in hiding in the Gulf. He offered them financial help and was also in close contact with Abdul Mateen Taha of IS-inspired terror outfit Al-Hind, police sources said.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is also involved in covert investigations into the contacts and accomplices of Shariq.
Meanwhile, a person named Arun Kumar Gowli of Sandur in the Ballari district was reportedly picked up for interrogation after it was found that the SIM card in Shariq’s mobile phone had been registered under his name.
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The SIM card was allegedly used by Shariq to communicate with his accomplices and handlers.
However, Shariq still undergoing treatment for the severe burn injuries suffered in the blast. Police teams, inevitably, have had to wait for his recovery.
Police teams, in the meantime, have been dispatched to Mangaluru, Mysuru, and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, and parts of Kerala to gather information related to the Mangaluru blast.
Shariq used Lord Shiva as WhatsApp DP
Shariq had enrolled himself for a mobile repair training course in Mysuru under the alias of Premraj. He had reportedly used a picture of Lord Shiva as his WhatsApp display picture. He was also seen wearing a Saffron shawl on his waist on the day of the blast. He had cleverly disguised himself as a Hindu for concealing his identity in case the blast claimed his life, sources said.
Karnataka Home Minister and DGP to visit Mangaluru today
State’s Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and DGP Praveen Sood will arrive in Mangaluru on Wednesday. The Home Minister will hold a meeting with senior officials and also visit the blast site and the hospital where the suspect is being treated.