The proximity of the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad to Maharashtra and Goa makes them attractive to terrorists as they can carry out their inter-state sabotage operations from here with ease, according to police sources.
The poor and unemployed Muslim youth of north Karnataka as a whole have become easy targets of extremists trying to enrol them into their organisations, they say. “The twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad have seen an influx of people from outside the state and some of them arrive here only to carry out illegal activities. The terrorists go head-hunting in the region by offering several inducements and taking advantage of the Idgah Maidan dispute to draw Muslim youth into their fold,” says a police officer.
Not too long ago Karntaka’s Corps of Detectives had arrested an electrician, Shakeel of Dharwad, for his alleged links with Simi, a banned outfit. He was accused of taking part in meetings with 25 other SIMI activists from Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala to discuss acts of sabotage.