Mangaluru Pressure Cooker Blast Case: NIA Files Chargesheet Against Two

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against two accused, Mohamed Shariq and Syed Yasin, in last year's pressure cooker blast that happened in Karnataka's Mangaluru. As per the reports, the blast was sponsored by Islamic State (IS).

Both the accused are already in Police custody in relation to the Shivamogga Islamic State Conspiracy Case of 2022.

As per the reports, accused Mohamed Shariq was carrying the IED in a pressure cooker in an auto-rickshaw when it exploded before reaching the targeted destination, Kadri Manjunatha Temple in Mangaluru. He himself had been injured in the blast in 2022.

"He (Shariq) had planned to plant the IED at Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangaluru, with the aim to create terror among the Hindu community but the low intensify bomb accidentally exploded on the way," an NIA official told the media.

"In pursuance of the conspiracy, Mohamed Shariq had prepared the pressure cooker IED and Syed Yasin had provided material support for the explosive. Mohammed Shariq first came on the radar of security forces in November 2020 when he was arrested by the state police for pro-terror graffiti in Mangaluru city. He and his associates had put up the graffiti in support of the global terror outfit, the Islamic State (IS)," the NIA statement reads.

Voice of Khurasan, a propaganda magazine run by Islamic State for Khurasan Province (ISKP) had claimed responsibility for the Coimbatore and Mangaluru blasts in its October 2022 editing, provoking their operatives to start a war against Hindus and BJP in India.
"Do you not consider our attacks in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka (Bangalore) where our brothers took revenge for the honor of our religion and terrorized Kufar and its followers," the magazine stated.

On June 30, both the accused were also named in another chargesheet for radicalizing and recruiting gullible Muslim youth, raising funds for terror and anti-India activities.

Till now, 10 accused have been arrested by the investigating agency in the Shivamogga Islamic State Conspiracy Case.