NIA Apprehends Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe Bombing Suspects in Bengal
Kolkata, 12th April 2024: The two suspects behind the explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru last month have been apprehended in Kanthi, located in Bengal’s East Midnapore district, as per a Friday morning statement from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The suspects, Mussavir Hussain Shazeb and Abdul Matheen Taha were caught through a joint effort involving central intelligence agencies and police from Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala. The suspects are now en route to Kolkata.
Shazeb allegedly planted an explosive device, which was placed in a backpack, at the popular cafe. Taha was in charge of planning the attack and aiding in their escape.
These arrests mark the second and third in the case; last month, Muzammil Shareef, who provided logistical support to Shazeb and Taha, was also arrested.
Shazeb and Taha, who are residents of Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, were traced to Kanthi following extensive searches across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
The explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1 injured 10 people, both customers and staff. Thankfully, there were no fatalities due to the bag containing explosives being placed in a less crowded area and against a large pillar that mitigated the impact.
Following the blast, the NIA released CCTV footage of the suspects, who were seen boarding a bus about an hour after the incident while wearing face masks. The agency offered a reward of ₹10 lakh for information leading to each suspect’s arrest and questioning their acquaintances.
The cafe reopened eight days after the incident, with increased security measures like metal detectors. Co-founder Raghavendra Rao stated that they had enhanced their security team and were considering setting up a separate panel of ex-servicemen to train security guards across all branches.
The Bengaluru Police initially registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in connection with the explosion at the cafe.
