As NIA Arrests 2 Key Bengaluru Blast Case Accused Hiding in Bengal, BJP-TMC Tussle Erupts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the key accused who allegedly carried out the blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1, along with co-conspirator Abdul Matheen Taahaa. A court later gave the agency a three-day transit remand of the two men.

Shazib and Taahaa, both residents of Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district of Karnataka, were traced to their hideout in Kanthi city of West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district. Investigators believe Taahaa used the cryptocurrency route to finance the operation, CNN-News18 has learnt. Some electronic gadgets and about 70 articles were seized from the two men, the agency said in court.

Sources indicated that DNA samples were picked up from the baseball cap, which was discarded at a place of worship after the blast. The NIA is likely to use the DNA samples to confirm the identity of the arrested men.

The blast took place on March 1 in the popular Bengaluru cafe during the busy lunch hour and left at least nine people injured. The case was handed over to the NIA on March 3.

“On early morning hours of 12.04.2024, 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 co-operation between NIA, Central Intelligence agencies and State Police agencies of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala police,” the probe agency said.

An NIA spokesperson had earlier said that some suspects were held following raids across 18 locations in three states including 12 in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu, and one in Uttar Pradesh.

The probe agency had arrested one Muzammil Shareef, a resident of Khalsa, Chikkamagaluru. He had extended “logistic support” to the man who carried out the blast.

NIA sources said that all three — Shareef, Hussain, and Taha — are associated with ISIS modules. Some reports stated that the men were involved in the Shivamogga graffiti case as well as the Mangaluru cooker blast case reported in November last year.

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

Soon after the NIA picked up the accused from West Bengal, BJP leader Amit Malviya posted on social media site X that the state “unfortunately, under Mamata Banerjee, has become a safe haven for terrorists”.

The West Bengal Police’s reply was prompt. “Falsehood at its worst!” the department’s post on X said.

Chief minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee hit back at the BJP during a rally in Cooch Behar. She said, “Heard one BJP leader saying that Bengal is not safe. The accused were arrested within two hours following a prompt response by police. What about the states where you are in power?”

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh asked agencies to investigate the matter “to find out that family’s links in providing shelter to anti-forces”.

Kanthi or Contai is known as a stronghold of West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and his family.