NIA issues notice to Thirthahalli man for inquiry in Rameshwaram Cafe blast case

SHIVAMOGGA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly issued a notice to a BJP worker from Thirthahalli and asked him to present himself for inquiry in connection with The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case.

The BJP worker, Sai Prasad, who works as a painter and is a second-hand mobile phone seller. He was said to be in touch with two Muslim youths whose houses and mobile phone shop in Thirthahalli were raided last week by the NIA.

According to sources, Sai Prasad had taken up painting work in the house of one of the Muslim youths recently. He is likely to be made a witness in the case, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the NIA on Friday issued a statement saying that it has been summoning and examining all of the acquaintances including college and school time friends of the absconding and arrested accused persons to gather evidence and information in the case.

“As part of investigation into Rameshwaram Café Blast dated 01.03.2024 at ITPL Road, Whitefield, Bengaluru (RC-01/2024/NIA/BLR), NIA has identified the accused person who carried out the IED blast as one Mussavir Hussain Shazib and co-conspirator as Abdul Matheen Taahaa both r/o Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district. Further, as part of investigation one Muzammil Shareef r/o Kalasa, Chikkamagalur, who extended logistics support to the main accused persons, was arrested on 26.03.2024 and was examined in police custody”, it said.

“As part of efforts to locate and arrest the absconding accused persons, NIA conducted searches on 18 locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Further, rewards of Rs 10 lakh on each of the absconders was declared on 29.03.2024. The case being terror incident, any information on the identity of the witnesses may apart from hampering investigation may also put to risk the individuals being summoned”, the statement said.