New Delhi:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released new photographs of the suspect linked to the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast which left 10 people injured. The anti-terror agency, which took over the case on March 3, has sought the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect who is believed to have planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the popular Bengaluru eatery on March 1.

CCTV footage captured the prime suspect boarding a bus approximately an hour after the blast occurred at the cafe. The timestamp on the video reads 2:03 pm on March 1, with the blast taking place at 12:56 pm. The suspect, wearing a T-shirt, cap, and facemask, was seen leaving behind a bag containing the IED in the cafe.

In another footage from the same day at around 9 pm, the suspect is observed roaming inside a bus station. The NIA has urged citizens to come forward with any information that may lead to the identification and apprehension of the suspect, offering a reward of Rs 10 lakh for valuable information.

NIA seeks citizen cooperation in identifying the suspect linked to the #RameswaramCafeBlastCase. Call 08029510900, 8904241100 or email to info.blr.nia@gov.in with any information. Your identity will remain confidential. #BengaluruCafeBlastpic.twitter.com/ISTXBZrwDK

— NIA India (@NIA_India) March 9, 2024

The Central Crime Branch of the Bengaluru police is collaborating with the NIA in the investigation. A cloth merchant from Kaul Bazaar in Ballari district and a cadre associated with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) have been arrested in connection with the case.

According to the probe team, the suspect changed his clothes after the incident and traveled by bus to different locations, including Tumakuru, Ballari, Bidar, and Bhatkal. CCTV footage reveals the suspect frequently altering his appearance to evade detection.

Cafe Reopens

The Rameshwaram Cafe resumed operations today with enhanced security measures. Metal detectors have been installed at the entrance, and customers are subjected to screening using handheld detectors to ensure the safety of patrons and staff.

Raghavendra Rao, the co-founder and CEO of The Rameshwaram Cafe, said, “We have strengthened our security team and are also trying to set up a separate panel involving ex-servicemen who could train our security guards at all our branches.”

Bengaluru:

Bengaluru’s The Rameshwaram Cafe – where 10 people were injured last week after a low-intensity explosive, or IED, was detonated during the lunch rush hour – will re-open, “brighter and stronger”, for business Saturday morning, the restaurant’s HR head told NDTV today.

Sridhar Murthy said work on repairing and rebuilding damaged parts of the cafe began immediately after the National Investigation Agency, which has taken over the case, handed over the building.

“The day NIA handed cafe to us, we began our work. We already had several meetings with our Managing Director and maintenance team. Within 48 hours all repair work was carried out,” he said.

Mr Murthy said the cafe – an iconic eatery in Bengaluru’s Brookfield area – would re-open “brighter and stronger” than before. “Our team worked around the clock, even till this morning,” he said, adding, “Fortunately there was no serious damage… and everyone suffered only minor injuries.”

The cafe’s co-owner, Divya Raghavendra Rao, said the opening ‘ceremony’ would include a rendition of the national anthem. “It is our mantra. We have taken all precautions before re-opening,” he said.

According to the administration, metal detectors have been installed at the entrance to screen customers, and staff have also been given handheld detectors. Additional CCTVs have been set up.

Mr Rao also said the cafe is cooperating with the authorities and had surrendered all CCTV footage and other information. “We are thankful to the government for helping us reopen so soon,” he said.

“They wanted to teach us a lesson… but we will teach them a lesson. With blessings of Lord Shiva, we have reopened our cafe on occasion of Mahashivratri,” he said defiantly.

NIA Takes Over Case

The NIA, which took over this case on Monday, has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about the suspected bomber, who was seen on the cafe’s CCTV footage minutes before the explosion.

Information can be given to the central anti-terror agency via e-mail – info.blr.nia@gov.in – or via one of two phone numbers – 080-29510900 and 8904241100.

READ | Bengaluru Cafe Blast: NIA’s 10 Lakh Bounty For Info About Bomber

Provisions of the stringent anti-terror law – the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – and the Explosive Substances Act – have been invoked against those responsible.

How The Blast Happened

In the video he is seen wearing a cap, face mask, and sunglasses, and is dressed in dark trousers and a grey shirt. He is first spotted walking to the cafe from a nearby bus stop; he is also carrying a small backpack that contained the IED. The suspect ordered a plate of rava idli and sat in a corner eating.

READ | Bengaluru Blast Suspect Caught On CCTV With Bomb In Bag

“He finished his meal and left, leaving his bag in the corner…” the owner told NDTV.

READ | “Suspect Had Rava Idli”: Bengaluru Cafe Owner To NDTV On Blast

All in all, the suspect spent only nine minutes inside The Rameshwaram Café.

He walked in at 11.34 am and left at 11.43 am, and the blast took place at 12.56 pm.

READ | Idli At 11.38, Blast At 12.56: Timeline Of Bengaluru Cafe Blast

In a heart-warming display of resilience, the cafe also held a small puja for the pillar against which the suspect left his IED-stuffed bag, and religious symbols have been drawn on it.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

New Delhi:

The owner of the Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru, where a low-intensity bomb blast left 10 people injured on Friday, spoke to NDTV and recounted the sequence of events that led to the explosion at her Whitefield outlet.

The owner, Divya Raghavendra Rao, said that the suspect was seen having rava idli before leaving his bag in the restaurant.

“My mobile phone was not with me when the blast took place and when I picked it up, there were too many missed calls. When I called back my team, they told me that there was a blast in the restaurant,” she said.

“The first thing that I thought was that maybe the blast took place due to something inside the kitchen. But then we found out that there were no injuries or blood inside the kitchen and that the blast took place in the customer area,” Ms Rao added.

She said that after looking at the CCTV footage, they saw that a guy wearing a mask and muffler came to the billing counter and ordered a rava idli.

“He took his order and then sat in a corner. He finished his meal and then left a bag in the corner before exiting the restaurant,” Ms Rao said, adding that the blast then took place after some time.

She said that luckily there were no cylinders kept where the blast took place.

‘Rameshwaram Cafe Is My Baby’

Ms Rao said that she recently gave birth to her baby and that there was no difference between the Rameshwaram cafe and her newborn.

“My business is also my baby and the damage to my outlet equally hurts me,” she said.

In a gritty message to her customers, she said that the Rameshwaram cafe would come back very shortly and strongly.

“The Whitefield outlet will operate the same way it was operating with more tight security and more safety systems in place. We will be back,” she said.

‘Will Help People Injured In Blast’

Thanking God that there were no fatal injuries in the Rameshwaram cafe blast, Mr Rao said that she would help the injured persons.

“There were no serious injuries. Some people who have received some injuries are likely to recover in 15-30 days,” she said.

“We will take care of them to make sure that they are back to their normal lives,” she added.

In an official statement, she said she is cooperating with the authorities and officials in their investigations.

“We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at our Brookefield branch today… Our thoughts are with the injured and their families, and we are offering them all the support, assistance and care they need and pray for their speedy recovery,” Ms Rao said.