The National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the bomber, and his accomplice Abdul Matheen Taha in connection with the Bengaluru cafe blast case. Their arrest took place in a covert operation on the outskirts of Kolkata in West Bengal. Shazib, also known as Shazeb, hails from Thirthahalli town in Karnataka's Shivamogga district. Taha, alias Taahaa, Matheen, Taha, Vignesh. D, and Sumit, was wanted in several other cases.
According to NIA sources, Shazib is responsible for placing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe, while Taha orchestrated the planning, execution of the blast, and their subsequent evasion from law enforcement. The arrest was made possible after extensive surveillance of their movements in Assam and West Bengal, with Shazib carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head.
West Bengal Police, in a joint operation with central intelligence agencies, confirmed the arrests of the suspects involved in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case. They applauded the proactive role of the state police in apprehending the culprits and emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of the people from terrorist activities.
Shazib had been using forged identity documents, including a fake driving license in the name of Mohammed Juned Sayed, to conceal his true identity. Similarly, he utilized Hindu identity documents and forged Aadhaar cards under the alias of Vignesh to avoid detection. The low-intensity IED used in the blast was manufactured in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, and transported to Bengaluru by Mussavir, who then collaborated with Taha in planting it at the Rameshwaram Café in the IT corridor region.
The NIA, taking over the case on March 3, identified Mussavir as the main perpetrator behind the blast. Earlier, they had arrested Muzamil Shareef, a key conspirator in the same case. Investigations revealed that Shareef provided logistical support to Mussavir and Taha in orchestrating the IED explosion at the café, which resulted in injuries to several staff members and extensive property damage along ITPL Road, Brookfield in Bengaluru on March 1.
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