Mangaluru is the favourite hideout for Indian Mujahideen, Al-Ummah terrorists
Police do not rule out the possibility of Bengaluru blast accused holing up in the coastal region
Mangaluru: Terror outfits, be it the Indian Mujahideen or Al Ummah, seem to have found Mangaluru, the city well connected through road, rail, air and sea, an ideal place to hide.
The police do not rule out the possibility of Bengaluru blast accused too holing up in the coastal region.
Soon after the Coimbatore blast in 1998, four members of Al Ummah had come to Mangaluru in the guise of saree dealers. They were hiding in a rented house near Ullal Bridge for many days. The police came to know about them only after they escaped.
Even Indian Mujahideen leaders like Riyaz Bhatkal were in Mangaluru, but managed to escape as the police arrested several people from the region for allegedly supporting Indian Mujahideen in 2008. IM leaders Tehseen and Rehman allegedly continued to live in Mangaluru till the arrest of Yasin and Haddi last year!
“Terror elements use places along the coastal belt like Mangaluru and Bhatkal as their hideouts. They live, posing as businessmen and professional, without being noticed,” a senior police officer told Deccan Chronicle.
“These elements live in places like Bhatkal and Mangaluru, but do not carry out any attacks here as it would give them away.
Along the coastal belt, including Bhatkal, there could be many who back and provide logistic support to Riyaz. But they manage to go under the radar,” he said.
A day after the blast in Bengaluru, the Mangaluru City Police have beefed up security in public places like malls, railway stations, bus stands and other places.
“We have posted men and officials in public places after the incident in Bengaluru,” Mangaluru DCP (Crime) Vishnuvardhan said.
To ensure that terrorists or criminals do not take shelter in the city, the police have also started asking people to inform them about any suspicious people.
“During Jana Samparka Sabhas, we ask the public to bring to our notice any suspicious people they find near their homes. We have also asked police officials to collect details and antecedents of migrant workers,” he said.