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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Friday that it has apprehended the main suspects involved in the explosion at Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru. The individuals, identified as Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb, were found hiding near Kolkata and were arrested by the NIA team.

According to the NIA, Mussavir Hussain Shazib is responsible for placing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe, while Abdul Matheen Taha orchestrated the planning and execution of the blast. The agency revealed that its teams successfully located the absconding accused near Kolkata with the help of coordinated efforts between NIA, Central Intelligence agencies, and State Police agencies of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.

The arrests come after the NIA widened its investigation into the case, delving into the social circles and past associations of the accused, including their friends from school and college. The agency intensified its efforts by summoning and scrutinizing acquaintances of both the absconding and arrested accused.

Various individuals associated with the suspects were called in for questioning to gather crucial evidence and information relevant to the case. The NIA's focus was on tracing the suspects' connections and possible motives to piece together the puzzle surrounding their alleged activities.

As part of the investigation, Muzammil Shareef, who provided logistics support to the main accused, was arrested earlier on March 26 and examined in police custody. The NIA had conducted searches in multiple locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh in its efforts to locate and apprehend the absconding accused.

The agency had also declared rewards of Rs 10 lakh on each of the two key absconders. The investigation into the Rameshwaram Cafe blast on March 1 at ITPL Road in Bengaluru's Whitefield led to the identification of the accused, who are residents of Thirthahalli area in Karnataka's Shivamogga district.

The NIA urged cooperation from all parties in apprehending the absconding accused persons as it continues its efforts to bring those responsible for the blast to justice.