Bangalore: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against four individuals in connection with the Rameshwaram cafe blast that occurred in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The accused, Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed, and Muzammil Shareef, face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) A), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDPP).
The explosion, which took place on March 1 at Rameshwaram Cafe, Brookfield, ITPL Bengaluru, resulted in nine injuries and significant damage to the property. The NIA began its investigation on March 3, involving technical and field investigations in collaboration with state police and other agencies.
The investigation revealed that Shazib planted the bomb with Taaha's assistance. Both men had been on the run since 2020 following the dismantling of the Al-Hind module and were apprehended in West Bengal 42 days after the blast. Shazib and Taaha, originally from Shivamogga District in Karnataka, were identified as ISIS radicals involved in recruiting and radicalizing other youths.
The chargesheet details how Taaha and Shazib used fraudulent Indian SIM cards, bank accounts, and identity documents obtained from the Dark Web. They were also linked to other conspiracies, including a failed IED attack at the BJP office in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, and had planned the Rameshwaram cafe attack. The funds for these activities were obtained through cryptocurrencies and converted to fiat using Telegram-based platforms. The investigation is ongoing, with further developments expected.
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