Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe: The suspects, who had been on the run since the explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1, were captured at their hiding place in Kolkata.
In short
- The suspects involved in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast were apprehended from a hideout in Kolkata.
- Mussavir Shazib is alleged to have planted the IED, with Abdul Taha purportedly being the mastermind behind the attack.
- The explosion on March 1 resulted in injuries to a minimum of 10 individuals.
The prime suspect responsible for the explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in West Bengal. The accused, who had been evading capture, were found and detained at a hideout in Kolkata. According to the NIA, Mussavir Hussain Shazib is alleged to have placed the improvised explosive device (IED) at the cafe, while Abdul Matheen Taha orchestrated the planning and execution of the blast.
Abdul Matheen Taha was linked to the Bengaluru Module of ISIS — Al Hind and both individuals were already wanted in a 2020 terrorism case.
According to the NIA, the suspects were concealing their identities under pretenses. The NIA further stated that the apprehension of the accused was the result of a coordinated effort involving Central intelligence agencies and police forces from West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Reports indicate that both Shazib and Taha were consistently receiving directives from a foreign handler. The arrests have the potential to uncover a sleeper cell network operating across various states, including Karnataka.
Following the explosion, Shazib boarded a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus to Goraguntepalya. From there, he traveled to Tumkur via a state-run bus. Continuously changing buses, the accused journeyed to Kalaburagi through Ballari before reaching Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, from Andhra Pradesh, Shazib made his way to Kolkata via Odisha.
Conversely, Abdul Mateen Taha opted for a different path and traveled to Kolkata via Tamil Nadu. Despite taking separate routes, the duo maintained communication and eventually rendezvoused in Kolkata. Their intention to depart Kolkata was thwarted by the arrest made by NIA officials.
On March 29, the anti-terrorism agency released photographs and identities of the two accused and announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for their information. -Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe
According to the agency, Shazib had been using the alias ‘Mohammed Juned Sayed‘ in an attempt to hide his true identity, while Taha had been employing Hindu identity documents and a forged Aadhar card under the name Vignesh.
In the previous month, the NIA apprehended and detained Muzammil Shareef, a resident of Chikkamagaluru, who is suspected of providing logistical assistance to the primary accused.
A TIMELINE OF THE RAMESHWARAM CAFE BLAST
An IED blast at the renowned cafe situated in Bengaluru’s Brookfield area resulted in injuries to at least 10 individuals.
March 1st CCTV footage showed the main suspect donning a full-sleeve shirt, a cap, eyeglasses, and a face mask as he approached the cafe while carrying a bag suspected to contain the explosive device.
At the cafe, the suspect ordered rava idli and was recorded by a CCTV camera positioned above the counter. However, he departed the cafe without consuming the food. Moments later, the explosive detonated.
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Subsequent CCTV footage revealed that he altered his clothing and appearance multiple times following the explosion.