Mangaluru: “Sharique had connection with Arafat Ali and Abdul Mateen. Arafat and Abdul Mateen are absconding abroad and are believed to have an ISIS network and Sharique is likely to be inspired by them, said ADGP Alok Kumar.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday November 21 he said, Arafat and Abdul Mateen are from Theerthahalli. Arafat Ali was the fourth accused in the pro-LeT graffiti case. It is learnt that he was the one who financed and inspired the blast. We also conducted searches at the house of Arafat Ali and Mateen and interrogated their family members. He had kept a fake identity in Mysore,” he added.
“There was a conditional bail given to the accused. In the graffiti case. But we can’t keep track of them.” Further he said, Arafat Ali, who is abroad, is an accused in the graffiti case. Sharique’s all activities were under the control of Arafat Ali. Sharique’s sister Rafia, who was married off to a person from Shikaripura, is also being interrogated. Will also look into their financial transactions,” he added.
“We have taken into custody two persons who had links with him in Mysuru. However, there is no information about his involvement in the act and an investigation is underway,” he noted.
Speaking about Mazz Muneer’s involvement in the blast he said, “I don’t know whether Mazz Muneer is involved in this case because he’s in jail. But before that they had conducted trial blast together. He had not arranged the bomb properly. He is not an expert, that’s why he didn’t prepare the bomb properly,” he said.
He was working at a mobile manufacturing company in Mysuru. There were explosives such as Potassium Nitrite, Sodium, Ammonium etc. found at his house. Sharique had bought some items online and other he purchased directly from the shop. He also used the Aadhaar Card of a Coimbatore-based man to purchase SIM card,” he said.
Speaking about the investigation he said, “This is an independent investigation by the State Police, but we are in touch with the Central Bureau of Investigation. There are currently four persons in custody, three are detained, and we will soon bring one from Ooty soon,” he added.
