Bengaluru, March 7, 2024: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its probe into the Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast, a chilling incident that shook Bengaluru’s Brookefield area.
The suspect, Minhaj alias Mohammed Sulaiman, a 26-year-old cloth merchant from Ballari, has been taken into NIA custody for questioning in connection with the explosion that left 10 people injured.
On March 1, a low-intensity explosion rocked the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area. The blast left 10 people injured, some with severe burns. The cafe, once bustling with patrons, now stands as a grim reminder of the terror that struck unexpectedly.
The Arrest and Investigation
Officials obtained a body warrant from the NIA special court to apprehend Minhaj, who was originally arrested on December 18, 2023. The court has granted the NIA custody of Sulaiman until March 9.
The suspect’s arrest pointing to Rameshwaram Cafe Blast came to light on the same day when Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara revealed crucial leads. Investigators believe that the suspected bomber traveled by bus from Bengaluru towards Tumakuru, then changed his clothes, and continued his journey to Ballari.
Parameshwara stated, “There are leads that the suspect traveled towards here in a bus. The investigators have checked the footage and found a few leads. They are verifying the trail from Tumakuru to Ballari.”
Rameshwaram Cafe Blast: ISIS Module Connection
The NIA suspects that Minhaj Sulaiman heads an ISIS module based in northern Karnataka’s Ballari. Along with four others, he was arrested in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe Blast following NIA raids in December. Their alleged plot involved Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). f
The NIA registered a case against the “ISIS-inspired Ballari module,” which planned to use explosive raw materials for carrying out terror acts. The IED blast occurred on March 1 at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe, leaving the city in shock. Investigators discovered a 9V battery, a timer, and scattered nuts and bolts at the crime scene.
Fresh CCTV Footage
Recently accessed CCTV footage revealed the suspect’s movements before the explosion. At 11:43 am, over an hour before the blast, the suspect was seen wearing a beige cap, a black backpack, a full-sleeved shirt, dark trousers, shoes, a facemask, and spectacles while moving around in a BMTC bus. The footage captured the suspect boarding the bus at 11:42 am, glancing briefly at the CCTV camera, and then walking away.
Political Reactions
The incident has sparked political debates, with the Opposition BJP attributing the blast to the government’s “appeasement politics.” They have called for a thorough investigation by the NIA123.
As the Rameshwaram Cafe Blast investigation unfolds, the city remains on edge, awaiting justice for the victims and answers about the terror network that operated right under its nose.
