BENGALURU, INDIA – Following the recent detonation of a bomb at Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefield on March 1, the streets of Soppugudde in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga were filled with the sound of police sirens. Thirthahalli, a peaceful town situated in Karnataka’s Malnad region, has now found itself in the spotlight as the hunt for suspects intensifies.
In a town known for occasional instances of communal tension, the arrest of two individuals linked to a possible terrorist plot has sent shockwaves through the community. The suspects, identified as Mussavir Hussain Shazeb and Abdul Matheen Taha, both have roots in Thirthahalli but have since moved on to be involved in more ominous activities.
As news of the arrest of Shazeb and Taha spread, their families took precautionary measures by locking up their homes and relocating to undisclosed locations. The families of the suspects, who have ties to the military and agriculture, are reportedly devastated by the turn of events.
A source close to Taha’s family shared that his father, Mansoor Ahmed, a retired serviceman, had always expressed pride in serving his country. However, his son’s alleged involvement in terrorism brought immense shame and heartache. Tragically, Ahmed passed away from a heart attack the previous year.
Meanwhile, Shazeb’s family has a different background, with his late father being an agriculturist. After his father’s demise, the family moved to Thirthahalli where Shazeb and his siblings have been involved in business endeavors. The close-knit community is grappling with the revelation that these childhood friends have taken such divergent paths.
Both Shazeb and Taha shared a history of friendship and education in Thirthahalli, but their choices led them down separate roads, with Taha pursuing engineering in Bengaluru while Shazeb opted to discontinue his studies. The unfolding story of these two individuals has captivated the town and raised concerns about potential extremist influences in previously tranquil surroundings.