Published 09:34 IST, April 13th 2024

Rameshwaram Cafe Blast Probe Intensifies: NIA Brings 2 Bombers to Bengaluru in Late-Night Move

Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Taahaa will be sent to St John’s Hospital for medical checkup before producing them in front of the magistrate today

Reported by: Srinwanti Das
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Rameshwaram Cafe Blast: Two terror masterminds brought to Bengaluru by the NIA for further investigation | Image: PTI
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Bengaluru Cafe Blast: After nabbing two Bengaluru cafe blast accused, who were behind March 1 explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe, from West Bengal’s Kantai near Digha on Friday morning in a breakthrough operation, National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has brought Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Maen Taahaa, identified as masterminds behind attack, to Bengaluru in a late-night move. y were arrested from West Bengal yesterday and brought to Bengaluru on a three-day transit remand by NIA.

As per reports, two terror suspects have been taken to an interrogation cell. two were taken to detention cell in Miwala. Following preliminary investigation, Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Maen Taahaa will be sent to St John’s Hospital for medical checkup before producing two in front of magistrate. two accused will be produced before magistrate in Bengaluru’s Koramangala area.

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two accused were brought to Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories in Bengaluru in a late-night move | Republic

Visuals from outside Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories, Karnataka, has now emerged where two prime suspects of Rameswaram Cafe blast case have been kept. 

As per reports, two accused could be produced before residence of judge of NIA Special Court since it's a second Saturday and a holiday. transit warrant granted for duo is for three days and in all likelihood NIA will continue to interrogate m and will produce m on Monday before NIA special court. transit warrant of duo ends on Sunday.

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First Images of Bengaluru Cafe Blast Accused Out

Late on April 12 night, Republic Kanna exclusively accessed first images of two cafe blast masterminds following arrest of duo from a hideout near Kolkata.

Exclusive picture of two terror accused, who were behind March 1 explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Karnataka's Bengaluru

Following arrest of two, NIA said in a statement, “In a significant development, absconders in Rameswaram Cafe blast case Abdul Maen Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb were traced out to ir hideout near Kolkata and were apprehended by NIA team.”

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Credit War Erupts over Arrest of Terror Suspects

As news broke out that two terror suspects were nabbed from a hideout in West Bengal’s Kantai area, BJP trained its guns on Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government.

In a X post BJP's Amit Malviya raised questions on safety and security measures undertaken by West Bengal Police. “NIA detains two chief suspects in Rameshwaram Cafe blast, bomber Mussavir Hussain Shazib and accomplice Abdul Maen Ahmed Taahaa, from Kolkata. Both likely belong to an ISIS cell in Shivamogga, Karnataka. West Bengal, unfortunately, under Mamata Banerjee, has become a safe haven for terrorists,” Amit Malviya, co-incharge of BJP in West Bengal, posted on X.

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In response, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that West Bengal Police's prompt action led to arrest of two terror accused. “West Bengal Police’s prompt action led to arrest of two accused of Bengaluru blast case. Within two hours duo was arrested," Chief Minister ded.

How Was Bengaluru Cafe Blast Executed?

Mussavir Hussain Shazeb is alleged to have placed Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at cafe and Abdul Maen Taahaa is believed to have orchestrated entire planning and execution of blast that rocked Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1.

CCTV footage that surfaced soon after blast showed how suspected bomber was present inside cafe, placed an order at food counter and exited cafe while leaving a bag behind, which is suspected to have been loed with explosives and exploded after suspect left cafe.

How Were Suspects Nabbed?

Soon after blast sent shockwaves across hi-tech city of Bengaluru, investigating teams launched a manhunt. Several images of suspects were released and suspects were tracked to be on run across Karnataka. Prior to attack, two were traced to be in Chennai too.

initial breakthrough in investigation occurred when authorities discovered a cap linked to suspects. probe revealed that cap h been purchased from a store in Chennai. Later, it was revealed that suspects h stayed in a lodge in Chennai and kept changing ir location after blast.

Investigating authorities also offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to apprehend suspect, whose image h been captured on CCTV.

masterminds behind Rameshwaram Cafe blast case managed to eve authorities by staying in guesthouses and private lodges, where identity verification procedures were lax or non-existent.

Finally, in morning of April 12, NIA was successful in tracing absconding accused near Kolkata where y were hiding under false identities.

Following arrest, anti-terror agency said in an official statement, “This pursuit was supported by coordinated action and cooperation among NIA, central intelligence agencies and state police agencies of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala.”

Abdul Mateen Taahaa: Bangaluru Cafe Blast Mastermind

Abdul Mateen Taahaa has been wanted by NIA since past five years. Taahaa has been named as mastermind of entire case for planning and plotting Bengaluru cafe bombing.

According to sources, questions posed to Taahaa would aim to find out:

  • How was payment me to fund and carry out terror activities?
  • How many meetings were conducted and where?
  • What terror activities were y planning to carry out in future?
  • Who is colonel?

Taahaa's previous cases include Al Hind module case (murder of TN inspector K Wilson, 2020), Shivamogga trial blasts (2022), Mangaluru cooker blast (2022). Taahaa is suspected to be one of high-value assets for ISIS in India. He was reportedly in direct contact with a colonel whose name has been heard in many cases across south and central India.

07:14 IST, April 13th 2024