By – Prakarsh Kastwar
Two people have been identified in the Bengaluru cafe blast: Mussavir Hussain Shazib, who planted the IED, and Abdul Matheen Taha, the mastermind behind the attack.
Bengaluru Cafe Blast Case News : In an important development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained two people on Friday, including the “mastermind,” in connection with the March 1 blast at Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe near Kolkata, West Bengal.
The individuals have been identified as Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the accused who placed the IED in the Rameshwaram Cafe, and Abdul Matheen Taha, the mastermind behind the blast’s planning and execution, according to an NIA statement.
“On the early morning of April 12, 2024, the NIA successfully tracked down the absconding suspects near Kolkata, where they were hiding under fictitious names. This successful pursuit by the NIA was ably supported by vigorous coordinated action and cooperation between the NIA, Central Intelligence agencies, and State Police agencies of West Bengal, Telengana (Telangana), Karnataka, and Kerala,” according to the NIA release.
Mussavir Hussain Shazib & Abdul Matheen Taha
It further stated, “Abdel Matheen Taha is the mastermind behind the planning, execution of the blast, and subsequent evasion from the clutches of law. Muskavir Hussain Shazib is the accused who placed the IED at the café.”
The NIA announced a ₹10 lakh reward for information on the bomber responsible for the explosion at Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram cafe. The CIA also stated that the identities of the informants will remain anonymous.
NIA provided an image of the suspect.
The agency also released a photo of the bomber, taken from CCTV footage while carrying a bag in the Rameshwaram Cafe, a famous cafe in Bengaluru’s Brookfield neighbourhood.
The NIA issued a photo of the bomber wearing a cap, black pants, and black shoes.
The NIA further stated in the post that “any information leading to his (bomber) arrest shall be rewarded”.
The NIA announced the reward three days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the investigation to the anti-terror agency.
NIA takes over the case.
The case was handed over to the NIA on March 3, following a visit to the blast site by an NIA team. On March 1, an explosion happened at a cafe in Bengaluru’s Whitefield district, injuring numerous people during the busy lunch hour.
The Bengaluru Police had already filed a complaint under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Substances Act in connection with the cafe incident.
The explosion occurred at 1 p.m. on March 1, and authorities discovered a suspect on CCTV camera footage holding a bag inside the cafe. So far, police investigations have revealed that the explosion was carried out using an IED device with a timer.