NIA Teams Collaborate To Connect Dots In Bengaluru Cafe Blast Probe. Top Points

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting rigorous questioning of four suspects held in Bengaluru Central Jail in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast.

police official stands guard at the Rameshwaram cafe blast site, in Bengaluru.

Source : PTI Images

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting rigorous questioning of four suspects held in Bengaluru Central Jail in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, sources on Friday told ABP News. Earlier on Wednesday, the NIA had announced a ₹10 lakh cash reward on Wednesday, urging the public for information about the suspected bomber. CCTV footage revealed crucial details about the suspect's identity.

Here Are Top Points: 

• These individuals—Mohammad Suleman, Sayed Sameer, Rahman Hussain, and Anas Iqbal Sheikh—are being interrogated under a body warrant, as NIA seeks to piece together crucial information.
• CCTV footage has confirmed that after orchestrating the cafe explosion, the prime suspect altered buses multiple times, travelling from Bengaluru to Ballari, sources told ABP News. 
• According to sources, investigators are suspicious of a potential meeting between the suspect and an unknown individual in Ballari, as the suspect boarded a bus to Gokarna and may have proceeded to Pune from there.
• NIA's separate teams are diligently working to connect these various elements in the investigation, aiming to reach the suspect, they said. 
• The intensified questioning and efforts to link these disparate pieces in the puzzle mark a crucial phase in the investigation into the Bengaluru cafe blast. 

The investigation into the cafe blast was transferred to the NIA earlier this week. On March 1, an explosion occurred at Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookfield, East Bengaluru, injuring at least 10 people.

The incident is believed to involve an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The Karnataka Police promptly registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act.

Accompanying the reward announcement, the NIA shared the suspect's CCTV footage. According to The Indian Express, the suspect arrived at a bus stop, approximately 100 meters from the cafe, at 10:45 am. He entered the cafe at 11:34 am, exited at 11:43 am, and later walked over a kilometre to a different bus stop for his escape using public buses.

Details About Bengaluru Cafe Blast Suspect:

• The suspect utilised multiple public buses to transport the explosive device and escape the scene. During his journey, he made stops, including at a Muslim religious centre a few kilometres away, as reported by The Indian Express.
• A discarded baseball cap worn by the suspect at the cafe was found at one of the stopover locations. It is suspected that the suspect changed his clothing at this stop.
• The improvised explosive device (IED) responsible for the blast was planted in a corner of the cafe, near a hand-washing area. Police sources revealed that the device, containing nuts and bolts as shrapnel, had its impact lessened by the presence of a nearby wall and tree.
• Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, addressing possible motives, mentioned business rivalry, impending elections, and the intimidation of investors due to a stable government as angles under investigation.
• The police obtained around 40 to 50 CCTV footage pieces to crack the case. Parameshwara noted the suspect's bus journey among 26 buses, revealing challenges in obtaining clarity due to the suspect's disguise—wearing a cap, mask, and glasses.