The City has grabbed international headlines, this time unfortunately for the wrong reasons, of being a cradle of terrorists. With the detention of Dr Mohammed Haneef and Dr Sabeel Ahmed, both students of Dr B R Ambedkar College, the uncomfortable question — ‘Is Bangalore a safe haven of terrorists?’ has been raised again.

According to placed information, what is worrying the Intelligence and enforcement agencies is the “consistent” indoctrination of “vulnerable people” into militant activities. “The recruits in militant groups include highly qualified people and professionals, including doctors, engineers etc. We are keeping a track on individuals and
organisations, who are indoctrinating innocent young people into terrorist activities in the name of religion. Many of them, after being brainwashed, have even been sent to Bangladesh and Pakistan for militant training. They have returned and are settled in various places in Karnataka,” said an officer. “The police find it difficult to trace them because they enjoy local support,” he added.

Coastal area security is another area of concern. “Though the entire coastline is vulnerable, Mangalore is very sensitive,” he added. On Bangalore being a possible haven of terrorists, there are enough incidents to support the claim. In December 2004, Prof Puri lost his life in an alleged LeT attack, at IISc.

Thereafter, Nadeem Hameed Kashmiri, an HSBC employee was arrested in June 2006 for allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy with an accomplice in London and hacking of accounts of 20 bank customers in London, without their knowledge.  Last year, a Mumbai blast accused Muzammil was found to have links with Bangalore. He had forged his marks card to take job in a blue chip firm. Early this year, Imran alias Bilal was arrested by CCB for allegedly plotting terror attacks on Vidhana Soudha, airport, Infosys and Wipro.