Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police lalrokhuma Pachuau confirmed that the three suspected terrorists - Panna Ismail, Police Fakruddin and Bilal Mallik - who were arrested last week in a joint operation by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh police, were involved in the April 17, 2013, blast outside the BJP office in Malleswaram that injured 16 people.
Addressing a Press conference in Bangalore on Monday, the police chief said Karnataka would seek the custody of the three and interrogate them.
He said, “We will get a clear picture of the Malleswaram blast case - the source of explosives, how the explosives reached Bangalore, who brought the motorbike used in the blast, who parked it near the BJP office - once we bring them here.”
The Bangalore Police will seek the custody of the trio for questioning after the Tamil Nadu police completes its probe to ascertain their role in the murder of two right-wing Hindu leaders in July and the 2011 attempt to trigger pipe bombs targeting a convoy of senior BJP leader lK Advani. The proscribed Al Ummah organisation, with whom the three are linked, would also be investigated, he said. The police suspect Ismail, Fakruddin and Mallik had a hideout in Bangalore.
They have already arrested Tamil Nadu youth Peer Mohiddin of Kacharakanahalli for the April 17 blast.
He is suspected to have provided shelter to the trio before the blast.