NIA declares Rs 10 lakh reward each against two wanted accused in Rameshwaram Cafe blast case

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared a reward of Rs 10 lakh each against two wanted accused Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib involved in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case.

The agency took to its official ‘X’ handle to circulate the pictures of the two absconding accused, informing “whoever provides any information leading to the arrest of the accused persons shall be rewarded”. It also made it clear that the identity of the informer will be kept secret.

Sharing information about Taahaa, the NIA said the 30-year-old accused having whitish complex and medium body built uses many aliases such as Vignesh D and Sumit (Or any other assumed Hindu name). With a height of approximately five feet five inches and bald from front as well as light hair on back and sides, Taahaa also wears cap and uses T-shirt and jeans, hoodies as clothings.

NIA said that the accused has been using Hindu identity documents, forged adhaar in the name of Vignesh or other similar forged ID documents to conceal identity. “He often wears mask, wig and fake beard. His preferred places of stay are mens and boys hostel, PG and sharing accommodations as well as low budget hotels and lodges.”

As per NIA inputs, Shazib, 30, has fair comlex, gym type body and height of approximately six feet two inches having black and straight hair.
NIA said that Shazib has been using a forged driving licence in the name of Mohammed Zuned Sayed or other similar forged ID documents to conceal identity.

The agency said that jeans, T-shirt and shirt are preferred dress of the accused. He also wears black smart watch, and often wears mask, wig and fake beard.

The terror agency said that mens and boys hostel, PG and sharing accommodations, low budget hotels and lodges are the preferred places of stay of the accused.

The agency asked to share information on info.blr.nia.gov.in or make call on telephone numbers: 080-29510900, 8904241100 about the two absconding accused involved in the IED explosion at the Rameshwaram Cafe located at ITPL road, Brookefield, Bengaluru, on March 1.

The move comes days after the agency arrested a key conspirator, identified as Muzammil Shareef, following massive raids across multiple locations in three states in the case. The key conspirator was arrested on Wednesday after he was picked up as a co-conspirator as the NIA teams cracked down at 18 locations, including 12 in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and one in Uttar Pradesh.

NIA, which took over the case on March 3, had earlier identified the main accused, Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain, who had carried out the blast. It had also identified another conspirator, Abdul Matheen Taahaa, who is also wanted by the agency in other cases too. Both the men are on the run.

NIA investigations have revealed that Muzammil Shareef had extended logistic support to the other two identified accused in the case, involving an IED explosion at the Cafe located at ITPL road, Brookefield, Bengaluru, on March 1.

Several customers and hotel staff members were injured, some of them grievously, in the blast, which caused extensive damage to the property.

The agency said, “The raids were conducted today at the houses of all these three accused, as well as the residential premises and shops of other suspects.”
During the raids, the NIA said various digital devices were seized during the searches, along with cash.

Efforts are on to nab the absconding accused and unearth the larger conspiracy behind the blast. (ANI)