Mangaluru Blast Case: ED Seizes Proceeds From Accused; Probe Uncovers Crypto-Funded ISIS Terror Network

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached Rs 29,176 found in the bank account of Syed Yasin, one of the key accused in the 2022 Mangaluru autorickshaw blast.

The seizure, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is the latest in a string of revelations linking the blast to a wider ISIS-backed conspiracy.

The Mangaluru explosion, which occurred on 19 November 2022, was part of a calculated terror plot by Islamic State (ISIS) operatives.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already established that the primary accused, Mohammad Shariq alias Premraj, was radicalised and trained online via encrypted platforms like Telegram and Wickr by a handler known only as ‘Colonel’.

The training included bomb-making techniques and instructions for conducting surveillance at high-footfall religious sites, including the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple which was the intended target.

Investigators revealed that cryptocurrencies and mule bank accounts were used to funnel funds from overseas.

Payments received from anonymous crypto dealers were withdrawn using Point-of-Sale agents, and the money was channelled into acquiring materials for the improvised explosive device (IED) and renting safehouses.

The IED, reportedly meant to detonate at the temple, exploded prematurely inside an autorickshaw due to a miscalculated timer setting. 9 seconds instead of 90 minutes.

A deeper financial trail has also emerged, with fellow accused Maaz Munir allegedly helping to set up mule accounts through FINO Payments Bank. All named accused are currently in judicial custody.

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