The National Investigation Agency nabbed the mastermind of the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast Abdul Matheen Taha from West Bengal on Friday. The agency also arrested his co-conspirator who planted the bomb at the Cafe.
The central agency said Adbul Matheen Taha, the blast mastermind, and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb, the accused who planted the bomb at the cafe were traced to their hideout near Kolkata and were apprehended by the NIA team. “ Mussavir Hussain Shazib is the accused who placed the IED at the café and Abdul Matheen Taha is the mastermind behind the planning, execution of blast and subsequent evasion from the clutches of law,” NIA officials said.
The anti-terror agency said, “On early morning hours of April 12, NIA were successful in tracing the absconding accused near Kolkata where they were hiding under false identities. This pursuit, successfully accomplished by NIA was ably supported by energetic coordinated action and cooperation between NIA, central intelligence agencies and state police agencies of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala police.”
NIA identified the key suspects in the case recently and announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information on each of the absconders. According to NIA, both the accused hail from Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
A low-intensity blast occurred in Bengaluru’s famous eatery in Brookefield on March 1. As many as nine people, including seven customers, were injured in the blast. A woman who was sitting near the bag sustained grievous injuries.