Bengaluru: In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended two suspects, Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Taha, in connection with the Rameswaram Cafe blast case that occurred in Bengaluru. The arrests were made near Kolkata in West Bengal during the early hours of Friday.Who are the apprehended accusedMussavir Hussain Shazib, believed to be the mastermind behind the low-intensity blast at the popular eatery in Bengaluru on March 1, is the primary accused who planted the improvised explosive device (IED) at the cafe. Abdul Matheen Taha, on the other hand, is regarded as a co-conspirator in the case. Both individuals hail from Thirthahalli in the Shivamogga district.Links to Islamic StatesShazib and Taha were associated with the Islamic States Shivamogga module, previously known for creating pro-terror graffiti. They were key figures in the notorious Thirthahalli module, a wanted terror group in Karnataka with ambitions of establishing an Islamic State Caliphate within the states forests, as per the NIAs charge sheet.Terror module inspired by Islamic StateBoth suspects were part of the Al Hind terror module, inspired by the Islamic State, and have been under the radar of investigative agencies since January 2020. Their names surfaced during investigations into various cases, including the 2020 murder of Special Sub Inspector A Wilson, who was fatally shot while on duty at a check post near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.Accused captured from West BengalEvading arrests since 2019, Shazib and Taha were finally apprehended near Kolkata, West Bengal. The NIAs successful operation marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the Rameswaram Cafe blast case, bringing these fugitive suspects to justice.
