The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the key accused who carried out the blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1, along with co-conspirator Abdul Matheen Taahaa.
Shazib and Taahaa, both both residents of Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district of Karnataka, were traced out to their hide out in East Midnapore’s Digha.
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 suspects.
“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 arrested 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.