Bhatkal man held for Instagram bomb threat to Ullal mosque

Bhatkal man held for Instagram bomb threat to Ullal mosque

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 4, 2026: Following a viral social media threat that triggered widespread concern, the Mangaluru police have arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly posting a message about carrying out a bomb blast near a mosque in Ullal.

The arrested accused has been identified as Shankar Mastappa Moger, a resident of Devinagar in Bhatkal.

The incident came to light after the accused, using the Instagram handle ’shankar11916’, commented on a post stating, "Support maadi bro ullal masjid hatra bomb blast madthini" (Support me bro, I will carry out a bomb blast near Ullal mosque). The screenshot of the comment was widely circulated across social media platforms, leading to tension in the communally sensitive region.

The threatening comment was first spotted by Santosh Doddamani, who was on social media monitoring duty. Recognising the severity of the threat, he immediately filed a complaint at the Ullal police station.

The police, who had registered a case earlier to track down the perpetrator, successfully traced the account to Shankar Moger. He was apprehended on Tuesday, March 3 and subsequently produced before the court.

The police have warned that stringent action will be taken against individuals using social media to issue threats or disturb communal harmony in the district.