NIA set to probe Mangaluru case; suspect recovering

MANGALURU: A decision on whether to hand over the Mangaluru autorickshaw blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will be taken in the next couple of days, said Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra.
After chairing a review meeting with top police officials, including director general and inspector general of police Praveen Sood, here on Wednesday, the home minister said that central agencies led by the NIA have been working with the Karnataka police on the blast from day one.
The prime suspect in the blast case, Mohammed Shariq, 24, who sustained injuries, is being treated at a private hospital in Mangaluru. He is on the road to recovery and should be able to speak soon, the home minister said.
DGP Praveen Sood said that any case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is brought to the notice of the NIA and details are shared with its officers.
Police sent information to NIA on Tuesday through the home ministry. The case will be formally handed over to NIA at an appropriate time. NIA and other central agencies have been involved in the probe from the start. The aim is to probe from all angles, including financial transactions. We are coordinating with counterparts in Mangaluru, Coimbatore, Kochi,” Sood said.