The Karnataka police on Sunday confirmed the identity of the auto rickshaw bomber in Mangaluru as Mohammed Shariq, 24, hailing from Teerthahalli and a terror accused charged with links to Islamic State (IS), on the run since September 2022.
Police have verified his photos in their records and his family has also identified the injured person in the hospital as Shariq, via a phone, and are on their way to the hospital, a senior police official said.
Probing a stabbing incident in Shivamogga around Independence Day over putting up a photo of V.D. Savarkar, Shivamogga Rural Police had busted an alleged terror module with alleged links to IS. Police had arrested Maaz Muneer Ahmed, 22 and Syed Yasin, 21 and recovered explosive materials from the duo.
Investigations had uncovered that they were radicalised by Shariq and they had learnt making bombs through PDF files, videos and several materials sent to them by him. The duo had prepared an IED and tested it successfully on the banks of Tungabhadra, police had alleged. However, Shariq had fled his residence and was absconding till date.
Shariq and Ahmed were arrested by Mangaluru City Police in 2020 over graffiti they wrote on the walls of two buildings in the coastal city, in support of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Taliban, and were later released on bail. Ahmed was again arrested in the terror module case in Sepetmber 2022, even as Shariq the prime accused in the case, was at large.
Shariq is said to be associated with Matheen Ahmed Taha, also hailing from Shivamogga and a member of Al Hind IS module, active in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Bengaluru-based Al Hind IS module was allegedly put together by Mehboob Pasha, a resident of Gurappana Palya, Bengaluru and Khaja Moideen, a resident of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, accused in several murder cases of Hindutva leaders in the neighbouring state.
The module was busted by the National Investigation Agency in 2020 and chargesheets filed in 2021, alleging the group wanted to establish an IS province inside the jungles of South India. However, Taha, a prominent member of this group, is still at large and Shariq is suspected to be his associate.
Qatar opens West Asia’s first World Cup before leaders, fans
Qatar on Sunday opened West Asia’s first FIFA World Cup before global leaders and soccer fans who have poured into this energy-rich nation after it was battered by a regional boycott and international criticism.
With American actor Morgan Freeman’s dulcet voice and an Arabian theme with camels, the opening ceremony began with a promise of “everyone is welcome.” Regardless of the outcome of Qatar versus Ecuador on the pitch, Doha already has drawn Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the opening ceremony and inaugural match of the tournament. The venue, Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor outside Doha, is one of an array of brand new stadiums built for the tournament, which has cost Qatar an estimated $200 billion.
South Korean K-pop star Jung Kook headlined the 30-minute opening ceremony.
World Cup organisers hope the start of the football will quell the controversies that have overshadowed preparations for the tournament ever since Qatar was named as host nation in a shock FIFA vote in 2010.
Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and the Gulf state’s human rights record have dominated the pre-tournament headlines.
Gujarat polls | BJP suspends 7 leaders for contesting as independents
The Gujarat BJP suspended seven party leaders, including two former MLAs, for filing nominations as independent candidates for the upcoming State Assembly elections after they were denied tickets. The seven candidates are contesting from the seats that will go to polls in the first phase of the Gujarat elections scheduled to be held on December 1.
Former MLAs Arvind Ladani, who had won from Keshod constituency in 2012, and Harshad Vasava from the Scheduled Tribe-reserved seat of Nandod, were among those suspended. Dr. Darshana Deshmukh from Nandod and Devabhai Malam from Keshod have been fielded instead.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed poll rallies in Dhoraji and Veraval towns in the State. In Dhoraji he criticised the Congress party after ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ activist Medha Patkar joined Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra, earlier on Saturday.
“The Narmada project was the only solution to quench the thirst of the arid region of Kutch and Kathiyawad (Saurashtra region). You must have seen yesterday how a Congress leader was doing padyatra with a woman, who was an anti-Narmada activist. She and others had stalled the project for three decades by creating legal hurdles,” Modi said. “When Congress leaders approach you to seek votes, I want you to ask them to explain on what moral ground the opposition party is seeking votes,” he added.
In Veraval, he appealed to the BJP workers to ensure that the party emerges victorious in all polling booths in the Gir Somnath district.
‘World has waited far too long’: India welcomes ‘loss and damage’ funds approved at COP27
India hailed the U.N. climate summit in Egypt for securing an agreement on establishing a fund to address loss and damage due to climate change-induced disasters, saying “the world has waited far too long for this”.
“You are presiding over a historic COP where agreement has been secured for loss and damage funding arrangements including setting up a loss and damage fund. The world has waited far too long for this. We congratulate you on your untiring efforts to evolve consensus,” Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said addressing the Egyptian presidency. Loss and damage refers to destruction caused by climate change-induced disasters.
Making an intervention in the closing plenary of COP27, he also said the world should not burden farmers with mitigation responsibilities.
He welcomed the inclusion of “transition to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production in our efforts to address climate change” in the cover decision of the deal struck in Sharm El-Sheikh.
On the establishment of a work programme on just transition, the Minister said that for most developing countries, just transition cannot be equated with decarbonisation, but with low-carbon development.
“Developing countries need independence in their choice of energy mix, and in achieving the SDGs. Developed countries taking the lead in climate action are, therefore, a very important aspect of the global transition,” he said.
At least five dead, 18 injured in shooting at gay nightclub in Colorado: Police
At least five people were killed and 18 injured in a shooting at a gay nightclub on Saturday night in Colorado Springs, Colorado, police said.
A suspect was in custody and was being treated for injuries after the attack at Club Q, Colorado Springs Lieutenant Pamela Castro told a news conference. Police got the initial phone call just before midnight about the shooting, Ms. Castro said.
In its Google listing, Club Q describes itself as an “adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub hosting theme nights such as karaoke, drag shows & DJs.”
On its Facebook page, a statement from Club Q said it was “devastated by the senseless attack on our community ... We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”
In Brief:
Suryakumar Yadav displayed his unmatched superiority in the shortest format with a breathtaking hundred as India outplayed New Zealand by 65 runs in the second T20. Surya struck a sensational 111 not out off 51 balls for his second T20 century and fired India to 191 for six. Promoted to number three, the 32-year-old toyed with the bowlers to lift India to a challenging total after New Zealand put the visitors in to bat. He smashed boundaries and sixes at will, his last 64 runs coming off just 18 balls. His entertaining innings had 11 fours and seven sixes and his strike rate was an incredible 217.64.
Evening Wrap will return tomorrow.
