Cops trace source of explosives seized in Bhatkal

The City police traced the source of the explosives seized from a house in Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada after the arrest of suspected Indian Mujahiddeen (IM) members.

The police are still questioning the four suspected IM members and have identified the shops from where the explosive materials were purchased. The investigating team has visited the shops and has gathered vital clues about the purchase of materials. “The location of the shops cannot be disclosed as shop owners are yet to be questioned to gather more details,” sources said.

The source added that one of the suspects had an advanced communication device in his possession. The police suspect it to be a radio frequency tracker device but are still analysing the device to know more. The police are yet to decipher the purpose of the device.

“The intelligence department has been asked to provide details of the number of people or establishments using satellite phones in the State and the purpose of these phones. We are also checking the basis on which the permission is granted for the usage of satellite phones,” he said.

Homeopathy doctor Syed Ismail Afaq (34) and Abdus Subur (24), an MBA student, were arrested from their house in Cox Town and scrap merchant Saddam Hussein (35) was picked up from Bhatkal. The police recovered laptops, mobile phones and incriminating communication equipment from the accused. Based on the information provided by the trio, Riyaz Ahmed (34), also a native of Bhatkal, was arrested from Mangaluru airport, where he was about to board a flight to Dubai.