BENGALURU: Some crucial information have surfaced in the Mangaluru auto blast case. Reports said Shariq, a resident of Shivamogga, is behind the blast. He is an accused in the UAPA case. Police raided Shariq's rented house in Mysuru in connection with the blast and recovered a cooker bomb and explosives.

He rented the house using a fake Aadhaar card. Three more people involved in the blast have been identified. The auto carrying the passenger exploded at 5 pm on Saturday. The blast was after the auto stopped on the road near a building. The passenger and the driver sustained serious burns.

After the bomb squad reached the spot and conducted an inspection, they came to the conclusion that it was an explosion. A burnt pressure cooker and batteries were found in the auto. Reports say the auto driver has given a statement to the police that the fire started from the passenger's bag.

The Karnataka Police has clarified that the blast has an act of terror. State police chief Praveen Sood confirmed that the accident that occurred last evening was not an accident but was a terrorist act intended to cause serious damages. He tweeted that the state police along with the central agencies are investigating the incident in detail.