Bengaluru Cafe Blast Rs 10 lakh for information: Suspect’s Identity Unraveled Through CCTV Trail

In the aftermath of the March 1 bomb blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case from local police and announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about the suspect. The suspect’s actions, captured on CCTV, are providing key leads regarding his identity and movements.

CCTV Trail and Suspect’s Movements:

The suspect arrived in a public bus at a bus stop approximately 100 meters from the cafe around 10:45 am on the day of the incident. CCTV footage reveals his entry into the cafe at 11:34 am, exit at 11:43 am, and subsequent walk to a bus stop over a kilometre away for his escape using public buses. The suspect’s trail, captured on cameras, is instrumental in tracing his activities an hour before the blast occurred at 12:56 pm.

Attire Change and Discarded Baseball Cap:

During the suspect’s getaway, he changed his attire at a stopover, leading to the discovery of a baseball cap he had been wearing at the cafe. This cap was found at one of the locations where a stopover was made during the escape. The suspect’s calculated move to change clothing adds a layer of complexity to the investigation.

IED Details and Similarities with Previous Cases:

The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) used in the blast was planted in a corner of the cafe, near a hand-wash area. The IED, containing nuts and bolts as projectiles, was strategically placed to reduce its impact on nearby structures. Investigations reveal the IED was kept in a tiffin box bag, wrapped in fibrous material, and detonated by easily available explosives—sulphur and potassium nitrate.

The triggering system in the IED bears similarities to devices found in two previous Islamic State-linked terror incidents in Karnataka in 2022, currently under NIA investigation. The suspect’s method of using bulb filaments switched on by a digital timer linked to a printed circuit aligns with the previous incidents.

Faked Mobile Phone Usage:

Investigators are considering the possibility that the suspect may have faked the usage of a mobile phone during his nine-minute halt at the cafe. While analyzing cell tower dump data, doubts arise on whether the suspect was genuinely using a cell phone or merely pretending to conceal his presence. The absence of the typical screen light during phone usage raises suspicions.

As the investigation intensifies, the CCTV trail is proving to be a valuable tool in uncovering the suspect’s identity and shedding light on the intricate details surrounding the Bengaluru cafe blast. The NIA continues its efforts to gather information and bring clarity to this disturbing incident.