New Delhi:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified Mussavir Hussain Shazib as the key accused who carried out the blast at a cafe in Bengaluru on March 1 and Abdul Matheen Taahaa as the co-conspirator.

As part of the efforts to locate and arrest the accused who are on the run, the NIA has conducted searches at 18 locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, an NIA spokesperson said.

In the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, the NIA has identified the accused person who carried out the IED blast as Mussavir Hussain Shazib and the co-conspirator as Abdul Matheen Taahaa, both residents of Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.

Several people were injured in the blast at the cafe located at ITPL Road, Brookefield, Bengaluru.

Further, as part of the investigation, Muzammil Shareef, a resident of Khalsa, Chikkamagaluru, who extended logistics support to the main accused persons, was arrested on March 26 and was examined in police custody, the spokesperson said.

The agency had declared rewards of Rs 10 lakh on information leading to the arrest of each person  on the run on March 29.

The NIA has been summoning and examining all acquaintances, including college and school friends, of the accused who are on the run and those who have been arrested to gather evidence and information in the case, the spokesperson said.

It being a terror incident, any information on the identity of the witnesses may put them at risk in addition to hampering the investigation. Also, unverified news items hamper effective investigation in the case, the agency said.

The NIA has sought the cooperation of all for the arrest of the accused who are on the run, the spokesperson said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The key conspirator in the Rameshwaram cafe blast case in Bengaluru was arrested by the National Investigation Agency today after massive raids across multiple locations in three states. Several customers and hotel staff members were injured in the blast on March 1, which caused extensive damage to the popular cafe.

Muzammil Shareef, who extended logistic support to the other two identified accused in the case, was arrested after the National Investigation Agency or NIA teams cracked down at 18 locations – 12 in Karnataka, 5 in Tamil Nadu and one in Uttar Pradesh.

NIA, which took over the case on March 3, had earlier identified the main accused, Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain, who had carried out the blast. It also identified another conspirator, Abdul Matheen Taha, wanted by the agency in other cases. Both the men are on the run.

Abdul Matheen Taha has been missing since 2020.

Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain allegedly left behind a bag in the cafe which had an IED in it.

Earlier, the NIA had sought people’s help in identifying the suspect. The Central Crime Branch of the Bengaluru police is also assisting the anti-terror agency in the case. It also shared multiple videos and pictures of the main accused so that he could be identified.

Raids were conducted today at the houses of all the three accused, as well as the residential premises and shops of other suspects. Various digital devices were seized during the searches, along with cash.

On March 13, the NIA detained a man believed to be an accomplice of the main suspect.

The Rameshwaram Cafe resumed operations on March 9 – eight days after the blast – 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.

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.

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New Delhi:

 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Wednesday a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for information about the bomber in connection with the blast at Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram cafe.

The agency also emphasized that the confidentiality of the informants’ identities will be maintained.

The agency also released a picture of the bomber, captured from the CCTV footage while keeping a bag in The Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular eatery in Bengaluru’s Brookfield area.

In the picture released by the NIA, the bomber is seen wearing a cap, black pants, and black shoes.

“NIA announces a cash reward of 10 lakh rupees for information about the bomber in Rameshwaram Cafe blast case of Bengaluru. Informants’ identity will be kept confidential,” the NIA said in a post on ‘X’.

In the post, the NIA also stressed that “any information leading to his (bomber) arrest shall be rewarded.”

NIA announces cash reward of 10 lakh rupees for information about bomber in Rameshwaram Cafe blast case of Bengaluru. Informants identity will be kept confidential. pic.twitter.com/F4kYophJFt

— NIA India (@NIA_India) March 6, 2024

The agency has also requested to pass on the information through mail at “info.blr.nia@gov.in,” as well as two contact numbers: 080-29510900 and 8904241100.

The NIA declared the reward three days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the probe into the case to the anti-terror agency.

The case was handed over to the NIA on March 3, following the visit of an NIA team at the blast site. The blast took place at the cafe on March 1 in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area, where several people were injured following an explosion that occurred during the busy lunch hour.

Earlier, the Bengaluru Police had registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in connection with the explosion at the cafe.

The blast took place at 1 pm on March 1 and the police also found a suspect in the CCTV footage, keeping a bag inside the cafe. The police probe so far has indicated that an IED device with a timer was used to carry out the explosion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday said business rivalry, impending elections and terrorising investors coming to Bengaluru in view of a stable government in the state are some of the angles which the police are working on to crack relating to the blast at a city eatery.

The explosion took place at Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookefield in East Bengaluru on Friday.

A man wearing a cap, mask and glasses is the prime suspect in the case and is still untraceable,

READ | Bengaluru Blast Suspect Caught On CCTV With Bag That Allegedly Had Bomb

According to him, eight teams are working to crack the case and they are accompanied by the National Investigation Agency, National Security Group (NSG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are assisting the teams.

Mr Parameshwara said one of the angles being probed was to see if it was to terrorise Bengaluru in view of the impending elections. “Elections are approaching. If any organisation is behind it, or if there are some other motives behind it to terrorise people to make Bengaluru look unsafe…,” the Minister added.

“As many investors are coming here in view of a stable government, this might have been done either to stop investors from coming to Bengaluru or due to some other unknown reasons,” Mr Parameshwara said.

The Minister said business rivals might have done it out of jealousy. That is one of the angles, which is also being discussed.

He said The Rameshwaram Cafe has 11 units and the owners were planning to set up their 12th unit, for which an advance deposit was also paid.

“We will crack it (the case). We will not leave it. However difficult this case may be, our department will bust it,” he asserted.

The Minister appealed to people to rely only on the statements issued by him, police and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and not on speculative ones.

To a question related to a pressure cooker blast in Mangaluru on November 19, 2022, Mr Parameshwara said there was a similar assemblage of explosives and other equipment as was in the incident in Mangaluru but that comparison doesn’t mean the same gang was behind the blast at Rameshwaram Cafe.

“The way the battery and timer have been used seems similar. We have to take it (investigation) forward. We don’t know whether the same organisation did it or the same people did it,” the Minister said.

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

He also said it was a low-intensity bomb as the explosives used were of low intensity and even the quantity might be less.

If the quantity was more then the intensity would have been higher, he observed.

According to him, there could have been casualties if the bomb had gone off horizontally and not vertically. “I too visited…and saw bolts and nails there. They all went up. If they had gone off horizontally then many people would have got hurt. It could have caused deaths too. Luckily all of them went up…,” Mr Parameshwara explained.

Speaking about the suspect, the Minister said police have procured about 40 to 50 CCTV footages.

“There is information that he came by bus… 26 buses passed there around that time. We went through all the 26 buses. We have found the bus on which he travelled. He was wearing a cap, mask, and glasses. We are not getting clarity there as well,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said there seems to be a link between the blast at the city’s popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe, and the cooker explosion that took place in the coastal city of Mangaluru in 2022, and all angles are being looked into by the police.

He said the government is committed to a fair probe, and police have been given a free hand to investigate the incident at the quick-service eatery in the Brookefield area of the information technology corridor in east Bengaluru that left ten people injured.

“There seems to be a link between the Mangaluru incident and this incident, according to police officers… materials used (for explosions), we can see a similarity, we can see a link, timer and other things,” Mr Shivakumar said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said police officers from Mangaluru and Shivamogga too have come here, and all angles are being looked into.

“There is no reason for Bengalurians to worry, it was low intensity blast, it was prepared locally… but sound was big. Culprit’s face is visible from all angles despite him wearing cap or specs. From three-four angles he is seen. Cameras have captured him walking too,” added Mr Shivakumar, who is also Bengaluru City Development Minister.

In Mangaluru, an improvised explosive device (IED) kept inside a pressure cooker accidentally went off when it was being taken in an auto rickshaw in November, 2022. Probe into the blast had revealed that the IED was meant to be planted at the Kadri Manjunatha temple.

Investigators had found that the Mangaluru cooker blast was “Islamic State-sponsored” and had the involvement of a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative.

Instructions have been given to police to look into all angles in the cafe blast, Mr Shivakumar, also State Congress chief, said.

“We will not meddle in it. Central Crime Branch (CCB) is investigating, they have formed 7-8 teams, and they are looking at all angles. There are cameras everywhere in Bengaluru city.

“He (suspect) has come by bus, how did he go back is being traced. You (media) too have got clippings which are being telecast. Investigation is being done. Police have been given a free hand,” he said.

Noting that the government is very serious about probing the blast incident and there is no question of sparing anyone, the Deputy CM said it is a matter of state’s pride.

“Let the BJP say whatever they want and do anything. We are least bothered about it.” “If they (BJP) offer constructive cooperation, okay, if they want to do politics, let them,” he said.

With regards to the treatment of the injured, Mr Shivakumar said already instructions have been given to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Joint Commissioner, “we will take care of their bills.” 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The talks at the WTO’s ministerial conference ended with no decision on key issues such as finding a permanent solution to public food stockpile and on curbing fisheries subsidies that lead to over-capacity and over-fishing, sources said. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

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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.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that the Rameshwaram cafe blast is being investigated from all angles, adding that 7-8 teams have been formed to probe the incident.

DK Shivakumar also stated that a youth came and kept a small bag, which exploded after an hour.

He has also aked the people of Bengaluru not to worry.

“It was a low-intensity blast. A youth came and kept a small bag, which exploded after an hour. About 10 people received injuries. 7-8 teams formed to probe the incident. We are looking from all angles. I ask every Bangalorean not to worry,” he said.

#WATCH | On Bengaluru cafe blast, Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar says, “It was a low-intensity blast. A youth came and kept a small bag which exploded after an hour. About 10 people received injuries. 7-8 teams formed to probe the incident. We are looking at all angles. I ask… pic.twitter.com/UFlaVxfAV5

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024

As many as 10 people have been injured in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe blast.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tejasvi Surya on Friday said that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must give free hand to agencies to investigate the Rameshwaram cafe blast incident, adding that the State government is repeatedly changing its narrative on the matter.

Tejasvi Surya, who represents Bengaluru South constituency in Lok Sabha, questioned the Chief Minister’s Siddaramaiah’s government intentions over the incident.

“At first, they tried the narrative of cylinder blast. Now, they are trying the narrative of business rivalry. Why can’t the Congress Govt allow the investigation agencies to do their job? Why preempt? Why prompt? Vote Bank compulsions? CM Siddaramaiah must give free hand to investigate and give clear answers to people of Bengaluru,” Tejasvi Surya posted on X.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and State Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, along with DGP Alok Mohan, also visited the Bengaluru explosion site for inspection.

A team from the National Investigation Agency also visited the explosion site in the Whitefield area.

Earlier today, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the accused involved in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram cafe will be traced and punished, adding that opposition parties should refrain from indulging in politics over the incident.

Addressing reporters in Mysuru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “CCTV footage from the cafe is being examined. It has come to be known that someone had left a bag at the cafe. The accused in the incident will be punished.”

Asserting that “multiple explosions have also taken place in previous governments,” the Chief Minister said, “This incident has happened in our government. Disciplinary and strict action will be taken against those involved. Politics should not be done in this matter.”

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader PC Mohan expressed concerns over the explosion that took place in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe and urged the administration to investigate the incident.

In a post on X, the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bengaluru Central, PC Mohan, said, “Concerned to hear about the mysterious blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru Central Parliamentary Constituency. My thoughts are with the affected individuals and their families. Urging authorities to investigate and ensure the safety of all citizens. Stay safe, Bengaluru.”

A security guard working at the Rameshwaram Cafe who was present at the time of the incident said, “I was standing outside the cafe. Many customers had come to the hotel. Suddenly there was a loud sound and a fire broke out, causing injuries to the customers inside the hotel.”

The Rameshwaram Cafe is one of the popular hangouts and is usually extremely crowded during lunch hours. Further details are awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)