The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the bomb blast that occurred at Bengaluru's renowned Rameshwaram Cafe a few weeks ago. The blast, which left nine people severely injured, shocked the nation, with the CCTV footage from the cafe's cameras circulating widely on the internet.
On April 12, 2024, the NIA arrested two main suspects, identified as Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb, from West Bengal. The suspects were apprehended in Kanthi/Contai, a small city located approximately 180 km from Kolkata, where they were hiding under fake identities.
According to NIA officials, Shazeb was responsible for placing the improvised explosive device (IED) at the cafe, while Taha was identified as the mastermind behind the attack. Taha meticulously planned, strategized, and executed the blast, which resulted in widespread devastation.
Following the blast, Shazeb embarked on a complex journey to evade authorities, traveling through multiple states across India. He utilized various modes of public transportation, including buses operated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), state-run buses, and intercity routes, ultimately making his way to Kolkata via Goraguntepalya, Tumkur, Kalaburagi, Nellore, and Odisha.
Meanwhile, Taha took a separate route, traveling to Kolkata via Tamil Nadu. Both suspects maintained constant communication throughout their respective journeys, indicating a high level of coordination in their actions.
The NIA's investigation revealed that both Taha and Shazeb were already wanted in connection with a terrorism case dating back to 2020. Furthermore, Taha's involvement with the Bengaluru Module of ISIS - Al-Hind, and the suspects' communication with a foreign handler, underscored the seriousness of their activities.
The successful apprehension of the suspects was the result of extensive collaboration between the NIA, central intelligence agencies, and state police agencies of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. The agencies worked tirelessly to track down and arrest Taha and Shazeb, leveraging a combination of surveillance footage, intelligence gathering, and coordinated efforts.
One crucial breakthrough in the investigation came when NIA officers identified Shazeb through a distinctive cap he was wearing while planting the IED at the cafe. By tracing the serial number of the cap seen in CCTV footage from the cafe and nearby locations, investigators were able to link the suspects to a shop in a mall in Mylapore, Chennai, where they had purchased the cap two months prior to the blast.
Multiple CCTV images from the mall, the shop, and a lodge provided clear evidence of Taha and Shazeb's presence, enabling the NIA to circulate their pictures nationwide and facilitate their identification and subsequent arrest.
The NIA's relentless pursuit of justice in the Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast case underscores the agency's commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of citizens across India.
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