Abdul Matheen Taha, the alleged mastermind behind the explosion at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru is suspected to be one of the Islamic State terrorist group’s “high-value assets” in India
Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, who planted the bomb at the Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1, were apprehended by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday from their hiding place near Kolkata.
On Saturday, the NIA obtained a 10-day custody of Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib who were brought to Bengaluru late Friday night and were placed in a detention cell in Madiwala. In addition to interrogating the two men, the anti-terrorism agency will also carry out an on-site investigation by escorting the accused to the blast site and to the locations where they resided in Bengaluru and Chennai.
Who is Abdul Matheen Taha mastermind of the Rameshwaram Cafe blast as ISIS asset is arrested and his biography
Main accused in #Rameshwaram Blast case detained by NIA!
Mussavir Hussain Shazib who allegedly carried out the IED blast, and his accomplice Abdul Mateen Taha detained by NIA in West Bengal pic.twitter.com/JsQV84zbZ7
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) April 12, 2024
Earlier in the day, they were brought before an NIA judge at his residence near Koramangala around 10:30 a.m., approximately half an hour after they were scheduled to undergo medical examinations. Abdul Mateen Taha, sought by the National Investigation Agency for the past five years, orchestrated and planned the explosion at the Bengaluru Cafe.
Abdul Matheen Taha’s organization
Abdul Matheen Taha has been linked to the Islamic State-sponsored pressure cooker bomb blast in Mangaluru in November 2022, the Shivamogga trial blasts in 2022, and the Al Hind module case in 2020. He maintained direct communication with a “colonel,” whose name has emerged in multiple cases across South and Central India. Abdul is around 30 years of age.
NIA officials intend to interrogate Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib regarding the identity of the “colonel,” the frequency of their meetings with him, the methods of payment used for executing terrorist activities, and their future schemes.
According to sources, following the cafe explosion, Taha devised a getaway plan for himself from Tamil Nadu and another one for Mussavir Hussain from Bengaluru.
Muzammil Shareef, another individual arrested two weeks ago, was directed by Taha to acquire the materials needed for the improvised explosive device (IED) and assemble it before placing the bomb in the cafe.
Taha conducted surveillance of the cafe for over a week to identify blind spots. He formulated entry and exit strategies for the bomber within the establishment and the city.
CCTV footage has emerged from the Dream Guest House in Kolkata, where Taha and Mussavir Hussain stayed from March 25 to 28 using false identities.
Upon their arrest, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara revealed that factors such as whether the two men were planning to flee to Bangladesh or if anyone was assisting them from across the border would be investigated.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude to the NIA and state police for apprehending the suspects.