The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is planning to appeal the 10-year prison term given to Mohammed Shariq in the Mangaluru cooker blast case. Officials aim to seek a life sentence for Shariq, who has already served about four years in jail with six more to go. Investigations suggest Shariq’s connections to terrorist groups pose a potential threat to society.
Preparations are underway for the appeal, with arguments being formulated by NIA officers. They intend to file the appeal soon, citing concerns that Shariq, who would be around 33 upon release, could be influenced by subversive elements. The agency fears he might be exploited by anti-national forces against the nation’s interests.
It has been revealed that local police, after arresting Shariq in 2020 for anti-national graffiti, allegedly displayed negligence. Due to a rushed chargesheet and lack of thorough investigation, Shariq and another suspect secured bail and engaged in anti-national activities. Had the case been handled differently, the terror module and the Mangaluru blast could potentially have been prevented.
