Karnataka minister sparks controversy with claim of BJP worker's arrest in Rameshwaram cafe blast case

Karnataka, India

An unexpected development has taken place in the ongoing investigation of the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, which happened on March 1 in Bengaluru in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

As investigative agencies are trying to nab the accused individuals involved in the incident, Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has stirred a controversy.

The minister has claimed that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a worker of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the incident. Many media outlets are carrying this story attributing it to reports, however, there is no official confirmation of any sort regarding this development by the agencies tasked to probe the matter.  

It is pertinent to note that NIA in a post has refuted the arrest of any of the accused yet, let alone BJP worker, and also warned that people must be cautious of unverified news items. 

The NIA, in an official statement posted on the microblogging site X disclosed that Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the primary perpetrator of the IED blast, has been identified. 

Alongside this, NIA also confirmed, that a co-conspirator Abdul Matheen Taahaa has also been identified by the agency. Notably, both are residents of Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka.

They also flagged the importance of gathering evidence without risking the safety of individuals who are summoned in connection to the probe being conducted. 

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"NIA to gather evidence and information in the case have been summoning and examining all of the acquaintances including college and school time friends of the absconding and arrested accused persons. The case being terror incident, any information on the identity of the witnesses may apart from hampering investigation may also put to risk the individuals being summoned," NIA said in the statement.

What did the minister say? 

Minister Rao took to social media to proclaim the detention of the BJP worker, a statement which ignited political speculations.

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"BJP leader has been taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Rameswaram Cafe blast case," he reportedly wrote in the post. 

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"What will the saffron buds of the state say now that our government is the reason for the explosion? Doesn't it mean that BJP is involved in Rameswaram cafe blast because BJP leader has been taken into custody by NIA? Do you need any more proof than this that the saffron terrorism that the BJP is running in the state in the name of religious protection is creating serious problems? What does the central BJP, which is imposing RSS ideologies on the country, say to this?" the minister added. 

(With inputs from agencies)