NIA Releases CCTV Footage Showing Bengaluru Cafe Blast Suspect, Seeks Help From Public

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) released new CCTV footage on Friday, capturing the suspect involved in the Bengaluru cafe blast inside a bus.

“NIA seeks citizen cooperation in identifying the suspect linked to the #RameswaramCafeBlastCase. Call 08029510900, 8904241100 or email to [email protected] with any information. Your identity will remain confidential. #BengaluruCafeBlast,” wrote the probe agency in a post on X, along with the CCTV clip showing the suspect boarding the bus.

On Thursday, NIA officials reached Ballari on Thursday following leads that the suspect traveled to northern Karnataka.

According to sources, CCTV grabs have shown the suspect in both Tumakuru and Ballari. The evidence suggests that the individual departed from Bengaluru following the blast and could have taken a bus to Mantralaya in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

Authorities are currently investigating whether anyone observed the suspect during this approximately 350 km journey. NIA teams have been deployed to these areas, including Uttar Kannada, in an effort to apprehend the suspect.

Based on CCTV evidence, investigators believe the suspect, wearing a baseball cap, reached Rameshwaram Cafe by boarding bus route 500D. He arrived at the eatery around 11:34 am and left in nine minutes. While inside the cafe, his face was covered, but a grab from a public bus shows his full face without sunglasses, a mask, or a cap.

Some details about the suspect’s identity were revealed through the CCTV trail on March 1, when the bomb blast at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in the Whitefield area, which injured nine people.

Sources told News18 that the suspect’s baseball cap has also been recovered by the NIA outside a nearby mosque. A source said that it seems that the Bangalore suspect changed his clothes after the blast.

The NIA is probing if he changed his attire en route. His baseball cap was reportedly recovered from a place of worship at least 5 km from the cafe. Officials said at least one person is being questioned at the place of worship.

On Wednesday, NIA announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about the suspect and posted his CCTV image.

Rameshwaram Cafe Reopens

After a low-intensity blast at the cafe last week, the eatery reopened on Friday with enhanced security measures. Metal detectors have been installed at the entrance, and every customer is screened before entry. Strict vigilance is in place to monitor any suspicious activity.

Raghavendra Rao, co-founder and CEO of The Rameshwaram Cafe told PTI, “Whatever incident happened…it should have not happened…This is a lesson for us to be strong. In fact, no matter what, no one can stop us.”

“They wanted to teach us a lesson but we will teach them a lesson. With blessings of Lord Shiva, we have reopened our cafe on occasion of Mahashivratri. We will be reopening the outlet for customers tomorrow with a national anthem,” Rao added.

Pujas were held this morning at the eatery, which was adorned with flowers and festive decorations to mark the reopening. Security arrangements, overseen by the police, were maintained throughout the day.

(With inputs from PTI)