New images of the suspect in the recent Rameshwaram Café explosion in Bengaluru have come to light. These pictures show the suspected terrorist traveling on buses over three different days, sometimes wearing a cap, sometimes without, and occasionally donning a mask. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released one such image of the suspect and announced a reward of 10 lakh rupees for information leading to his capture, assuring confidentiality for the informant.
Links to Bhatkal Uncovered
As the investigation deepens, more information is being unearthed. It appears the suspected terrorist has connections to the notorious Bhatkal, known for its history of terrorism, and evidence is coming to light. On Tuesday, the accused was spotted at the Tumkur bus stand wearing a mask and cap. The following evening, he boarded a bus from Mantralayam in Andhra Pradesh to Gokarna. By Thursday, he had disembarked near Bhatkal.
Source: aajtak
Notably, Bhatkal, a place in Karnataka, has hit the headlines not for any good reasons but rather for its infamy. Three youths from here joined the terrorist organization Indian Mujahideen and appended 'Bhatkal' to their names, such as - Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, and Yasin Bhatkal. Since then, Bhatkal has become known for the wrong reasons.
Source: aajtak
The Blast Occurred on March 1st
It is important to note that an explosive blast ripped through Bangalore’s Rameshwaram Café around 1 PM on Friday, March 1st, leaving ten people injured. Amidst the ensuing chaos and dense smoke, patrons were seen scrambling to save themselves. Initially thought to be a gas cylinder explosion, the involvement of police and the NIA shifted the suspicion towards terrorism, leading to a full transfer of the case to the NIA.
Source: aajtak
Intelligence agencies suspect that two terrorists, Junaid and Salman, played key roles in the blast. Sources indicate they might currently be in Azerbaijan, having previously been located in Dubai. Considered members of the Lashkar module, they became the focus of a search when intelligence agencies busted a Lashkar module in Bangalore last July, leading to six arrests.
