In recent developments concerning the explosion at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe, newly obtained CCTV footage sheds light on the movements of the suspected perpetrator. The footage reveals a masked individual, attired in a grey t-shirt and donning a cap, entering and subsequently exiting the cafe within approximately nine minutes. This individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, stands accused of planting an explosive device within the cafe, leading to the detonation that occurred on Friday, resulting in injuries to ten individuals and prompting inquiries into the motive behind the act.
Extensive scrutiny of multiple CCTV recordings following the March 1 blast has allowed for the establishment of a detailed timeline spanning approximately two hours. The footage captures the suspect disembarking from a bus, entering the cafe while carrying a bag presumably containing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), ordering food, and departing the premises. Notably, the suspect is depicted handling a plate of rava idli and later lingering near the washbasin area before exiting the establishment. A time-stamped sequence of events delineates the suspect's actions from 11:10 am, when he alights from the bus to 12:56 pm, the moment of the explosion.
Moreover, recent CCTV footage obtained on Monday showcases the suspect disembarking from a bus near the Rameshwaram Cafe. Masked and concealed under a white handkerchief, the individual is observed wearing a cap, mask, and glasses while inside the cafe, located in Bengaluru's Brookfield area.
In response to these developments, law enforcement authorities have initiated comprehensive investigative measures, including the formulation of a route map based on CCTV footage tracking the suspect's movements in the vicinity of the cafe. Additionally, the Bengaluru Police conducted a seizure of a digital video recorder (DVR) from the cafe premises, further scrutinizing surveillance footage from neighboring establishments. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar disclosed that the suspect, estimated to be between 28 to 30 years old, has been identified through CCTV footage.
Concurrently, legal proceedings have been set in motion, with the Bengaluru Police registering a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in connection with the blast. Furthermore, the Home Ministry has transferred the investigation of the cafe explosion to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), signaling a heightened focus on potential terrorist involvement, prompting the agency to undertake an official case registration.
