Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency announced on Friday morning that the individuals behind the blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru have been apprehended in Kanthi, located in Bengal’s East Midnapore district. The arrested suspects, Mussavir Hussain Shazeb and Abdul Matheen Taha, were captured as a result of a collaborative effort between central intelligence agencies and the police forces of Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala. They are currently being transported to Kolkata, as stated by the anti-terror agency.
Based on the available evidence, it is believed that Shazeb planted the explosive device, concealed within a backpack, at the popular eatery. Taha, on the other hand, was responsible for orchestrating the attack and ensuring their escape.
These recent arrests mark the second and third individuals detained in connection with this case. Last month, Muzammil Shareef, who provided logistical support to Shazeb and Taha, was also taken into custody.
Shazeb and Taha, residents of Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, were located in Kanthi following searches conducted at 18 different locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh by officials.
The explosion that occurred at Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1 resulted in injuries to 10 individuals, including both customers and staff members.
Thankfully, there were no fatalities; the bag containing the explosives was positioned in a less densely populated area and next to a large pillar that absorbed most of the impact from the blast.
Following the incident, the NIA shared images and footage of the suspects captured by CCTV cameras throughout Bengaluru. In one of the clips, the suspect – wearing a face mask – was observed boarding a bus.
Approximately an hour had passed since the explosion occurred. The agency had announced a reward of ₹ 10 lakh for any information that could lead to the capture of each suspect. Additionally, the agency had interviewed their acquaintances, which included friends from college and school.
The Rameshwaram Cafe, which had suffered significant damage from the blast, reopened after eight days with increased security measures such as metal detectors. “We have bolstered our security team and are in the process of establishing a separate group of ex-servicemen who will provide training to security personnel at all our branches,” stated co-founder Raghavendra Rao. Previously, the Bengaluru Police had filed a case under the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in relation to the explosion at the cafe.