The intricate planning and execution of the blast at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe involved the collaboration of Abdul Mateen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, who meticulously traversed multiple states and utilized various modes of public transportation to reach Kolkata. To evade authorities, they sought refuge in several hotels across the city.
Their journey in Kolkata began with a stay at Hotel Esplanade Inn on March 12, followed by a brief stint at Paradise Hotel in Lenin Sarani. After a short stay, they moved to the Green Guest House in the Khidirpur area on March 21. However, they abruptly departed from this establishment on March 22 without settling their dues, taking advantage of a malfunctioning identity document scanning system.
Undeterred, Taha and Shazib sought accommodation in another hotel within the vicinity on March 28, with plans to subsequently head to Digha. However, their movements were closely monitored by law enforcement agencies, leading to their eventual arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 12.
Abdul Mateen Taha, a wanted individual with alleged ties to the Islamic State, had been on the radar of anti-terror agencies for several years, with his involvement in various terror-related incidents, including the Mangaluru pressure cooker bomb blast in 2022, the Shivamogga trial blasts in the same year, and the Al Hind module case in 2020.
Muzammil Shareef, another arrested individual linked to the case, had been instructed by Taha to procure the necessary materials for constructing the improvised explosive device (IED) and subsequently assembling it before placing it at Rameshwaram Cafe.
The devastating blast at the popular eatery on March 1 resulted in injuries to at least 10 individuals, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for robust counter-terrorism measures.
