Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast: NIA nabs 'mastermind' and man who planted IED from near Kolkata

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained two key suspects in connection with the Rameshwaram cafe blast that occurred in March in Karnataka's Bengaluru. According to the NIA, the detainees include Mussavir Hussain Shazeb, the man who placed the IED at Rameshwaram cafe, and Abdul Matheen Taha, the 'mastermind' behind the incident.

"The absconders in the Rameswaram Cafe blast case, Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, were traced to their hideout near Kolkata and apprehended by an NIA team. In the early morning hours of April 12, the NIA successfully traced the absconding accused near Kolkata, where they were hiding under false identities," the NIA statement said.

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"Mussavir Hussain Shazib is the accused who placed the IED at the café, and Abdul Matheen Taha is the mastermind behind the planning, execution of the blast, and subsequent evasion from the clutches of law," NIA added.

"This pursuit, successfully accomplished by NIA, was ably supported by energetic coordinated action and cooperation between NIA, Central Intelligence agencies, and State Police agencies of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala police," the agency added.

The absconders in the Rameswaram Cafe blast case, Adbul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb were traced out to their hideout near Kolkata and were apprehended by the NIA team.

Mussavir Hussain Shazib is the accused who placed the IED at the Café and Abdul Matheen Taha is… pic.twitter.com/gZ3odYGq7N — ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2024

The NIA, after reviewing CCTV footage from over 300 cameras, concluded that the detainees were ISIS members who had emerged on the radar of security agencies in 2020.

When did the Rameshwaram Cafe blast happen?

The Rameshwaram Cafe in the Whitefield area of Bengaluru occurred on March 1 and injuredninepeople. NIA took over the case on March 3 following a visit to the blast site.

The NIA earlier released the photograph of the suspect and announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information. The agency took the images from CCTV footage at the explosion site. "NIA announces a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about the bomber in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case of Bengaluru. The informants' identities will be kept confidential," NIA wrote on X.