NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information on the two suspects in the Bengaluru cafe blast case. The NIA has announced the reward for information on the two suspects, Musaavir Hussain Shazib, who allegedly planted the improvised explosive device (IED) in the Rameshwaram Cafe, and Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa, for conspiring in the case. Both of them are already wanted in a 2020 terrorism case. It said that people having information on both the suspects can contact the agency through email on info.blr.nia@gov.in or through call. The NIA said that Shazib had been using the name Mohammed Juned Sayed to “conceal identity”. Similarly, Taahaa had been using Hindu identity documents and forged Aadhar card with the name Vignesh, the agency said. It further said that the identity of the informer will be kept secret. The agency had arrested Muzammil Shareef, one of the co-conspirators in the case, on March 28, after the NIA team conducted search operations at 18 locations, including 12 in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu, and one in Uttar Pradesh. The raids were conducted on March 17 at the residences of the three suspects, including Shareef, and the homes and shops of other persons of interest. During the searches, various digital devices and cash were confiscated. The NIA had said that Shareef provided logistical support to the other accused individuals involved in the incident. Ten people were injured in the low-intensity blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1. The explosion was carried out by triggering an IED bomb using a timer.
