The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a breakthrough in the Bangalore Rameshwaram Cafe Blast case, arresting a suspect identified as Abdul Salim in Maidakuru, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. Simultaneously, NIA officers are conducting raids in Chennai (Mannady) and Ramanathapuram, intensifying their efforts to unearth connections related to the recent explosion.
Abdul Salim, believed to be a key member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), was apprehended by NIA in Maidakuru. Sources suggest that he is a prime suspect in the Bangalore bomb blast case and has been associated with various unlawful incidents. The arrest follows the identification of Salim from CCTV footage, which captured him leaving a bag inside the Rameshwaram Cafe.
The suspect, who served as the state secretary of PFI in Telangana North, had been evading law enforcement since his alleged involvement in several illicit activities came to light. NIA’s investigation indicates Salim’s purported role in planning acts of terrorism and violence within the country. Authorities suspect his links to multiple incidents, including the Rameswaram Cafe Blast and the Bengaluru bomb blast.
Responding to the severity of the situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the NIA to take over the case. NIA has assumed swift control of the investigation, examining all possible angles, including the role of individuals associated with terrorist organisations. Central government officials are closely monitoring the probe.
Concurrently, the NIA is conducting searches at various locations in Chennai and Bengaluru, seeking to gather evidence and establish links to the recent explosion. The low-intensity blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookfield, East Bengaluru, on March 1 left at least 10 people injured. NIA sources indicate a thorough examination of potential connections to individuals associated with the Islamic State (IS) cadre, given similar incidents in Coimbatore and Mangaluru in recent years.
In a related development, NIA has arrested two individuals, Thameem Ashok and Hassan Ali, in Chennai in connection with a terror funding case. The investigation pertains to the radicalization of prisoners by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist in a Bengaluru prison. Raids are being conducted at multiple locations across seven states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
The NIA’s findings reveal that Rs 1 lakh, traced to have originated from Dubai, was deposited in an account linked to LeT operative and kingpin Thadiyantavida Naseer. The arrested individuals in Chennai are believed to have connections to this module, raising concerns about a potential link to the recent blast in Bengaluru.
The Bengaluru police had previously filed a complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has emphasised the importance of prioritising citizen safety in light of these developments.
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