Man arrested for Instagram bomb threat near mosque in Ullal

Police have arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly posting a bomb threat on Instagram targeting a mosque in Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district , officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Shankar Masthappa Mogera , a resident of Devinagar in Bhatkal of Uttara Kannada district, was taken into custody after police traced a social media post he allegedly made on March 2 threatening to carry out a bomb blast near a mosque in Ullal.

According to police, the comment was found to be inflammatory and capable of inciting communal tension and disturbing public peace. A case was registered at the Ullal Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief), Section 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), and Section 351(3) (criminal intimidation).

Police said the accused was apprehended on Tuesday and the mobile phone allegedly used to post the threatening message has been seized for further investigation.

Officials said police in the coastal belt have intensified monitoring of social media platforms to detect provocative or misleading posts at an early stage. Cyber surveillance units are actively tracking online activity, while district police have urged citizens to verify information before sharing it online.

Authorities have also strengthened coordination between cybercrime units, local police stations and intelligence teams to quickly respond to any attempt to spread misinformation or rumours that could disturb communal harmony. Police have warned that strict legal action will be taken against individuals who circulate inflammatory content or attempt to create panic through social media.

The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and parts of Uttara Kannada have witnessed sporadic incidents of communal tension in the past, prompting authorities to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in the digital space where rumours can spread rapidly.

The accused was produced before the jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Mangaluru, and further legal proceedings are underway.