Bangalore: The NIA Bengaluru unit reached Kochi and started the investigation by interrogating many people who were related to the mastermind Muhammad Shariq in Kerala in the Mangalore blast case. The Karnataka Police and the State ATS had received information about Muhammad Shariq’s arrival in Kerala and his stay in Kochi city, Aluva and Munambam. Based on this, the Bengaluru NIA, which has taken over the case, is continuing the investigation.
Those who directly helped Shariq were interrogated. Mohammad Shariq, who reached Munambam from Aluva through Paravoor, stayed in a fishing boat for two days. It is suggested that they reached Munambam for human trafficking transactions and this is how the group consisting of Shariq found funds for terrorist activities. An interrogation is also underway to confirm this.
The NIA has also collected information on human trafficking that took place in Munambam in the past. ATS had found out that Mohammad Shariq had received help from Kerala. Sharikh will be brought to Kochi soon and evidence will be taken. Evidence will be collected in Kanyakumari and Colachel. It is also necessary to find out whether other blasts were planned in Kerala.
