Islamist terror suspect arrested from Karnataka by NIA.

NIA arrests Islamist terror suspect from Banavasi, allegedly engaged “with the aim to create terror among the Hindu community”.

B Upendran | HENB | Banavasi (UttaraKannada) | June 19, 2024:: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths arrested a terror suspect from Dasana Koppa village in Banavasi taluk for allegedly instigating the suspects involved in the Mangaluru cooker blast, Bengaluru Rameshwaram cafe explosion and Shivamogga mosque blast.

Sources say, while Mangaluru cooker blast (with a plan to plant the bomb at Kadri Manjunatha Temple), and Bengaluru Rameshwaram cafe explosion were set “with the aim to create terror among the Hindu community”, the Shivamogga mosque blast was planned to create “communal riots between Hindus and Muslim”.

The suspect, 32-year-old Abdul Shakoor, was picked up after raids at several places in Sirsi and Banavasi of Karnataka.

Shakoor, who hails from Dasana Koppa village, works in Dubai and is allegedly a member of the banned Popular Front of India. He had come home to celebrate Bakrid when the National Investigation Agency picked him up.

Sources said Shakoor has links with many terror organisations and keeps in touch with them online. “He has a passport, which he has obtained by furnishing false documents. We are probing that angle too,” the source added.

Shakoor, who was a sort of a moulvi (Muslim cleric) , had visited Thirthalli in 2018-19,  and that was when he met the prime accused in Mangaluru cooker blast, Rameshwaram cafe blast and Shivamogga mosque blasts.

The police said he has not studied beyond school. He has a business in Dubai, dealing with kitchen items, air-conditioners and metals.

A source says, a team of  NIA has taken Shakoor to an undisclosed location. Details awaited.

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__Inputs from TNIE.