Evading the Police: Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe Blast Suspect’s Use of Fake Identities and Cash Payments

Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib were recently arrested in West Bengal and brought to Bengaluru. The two suspects were captured late in the evening. Investigators obtained CCTV footage indicating that the accused had registered at Dream Guest House in the Ekbalpur area of Kolkata.

They arrived at the hotel on March 25 and departed on March 28, using false identities during their stay. Subsequently, they are said to have ventured to the East Midnapore district. Sources familiar with the investigation stated that the accused changed their addresses frequently as they departed from Karnataka in an attempt to avoid law enforcement agencies.

They were found to have checked into several small hotels across multiple states before being apprehended. In order to avoid leaving a paper trail, they utilized cash for payment in most places. Authorities conducted searches at 18 different locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh before ultimately locating the accused in Kanthi, a small city situated 180 km from Kolkata.

Additionally, officials confirmed that the accused had been residing in a lodge in Bengal. The NIA arrested Shazib and Taahaa for their suspected involvement in a blast at Rameswaram Cafe on ITPL Road, Brookefield, Bengaluru, on March 1. The explosion resulted in 10 individuals sustaining injuries.

Officials asserted that Shazib is believed to have placed the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe, while Taahaa is suspected to be the mastermind behind the attack. The NIA assumed control of the investigation on March 3 and offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for information leading to the arrest of the two accused. A court in Kolkata granted the accused a 3-day transit remand on Friday, allowing the NIA to transport them to Bengaluru for further investigation.

Both suspects will undergo a standard medical examination before being presented before the NIA court in Bengaluru.