Bengaluru Cafe Blast: NIA Makes 1st Arrest, Captures Key Accomplice From Karnataka's Ballari

A mild intensity blast at Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru's Brookfield injured 10 people on March 1.

New Delhi: Making its first arrest in Bengaluru cafe blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has nabbed a man named Mohammed Shabbir from Karnataka's Ballari, who is said to be a accomplice of the main accused. The NIA, with the assistance of the Bengaluru police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB), is diligently pursuing the investigation of an explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a fast-food restaurant in the Brookefield area, part of Bengaluru’s eastern IT corridor. The blast resulted in injuries to ten individuals. In pursuit of the suspect, investigative teams have conducted searches in Tumakuru, Ballari, and Kalaburagi.

The NIA has offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information that leads to the arrest of the individual responsible for the bombing and has circulated CCTV footage and images of the suspect to aid in their search.

The establishment resumed operations this Friday, amidst a grand celebration of Mahashivratri, complete with heightened security protocols to prevent any future mishaps. The cafe began welcoming the general public from today.

In the aftermath of the March 1 event, the cafe underwent a police cordon as a component of the city police’s investigative efforts.