“Whatever incident happened, it should not be supposed to happen in India. This is not the place to happen.It’s a lesson for us to be strong…we are in no way going to stop. Whoever trying to stop us and trying to teach us a lesson, we are here to teach them a lesson,” Raghavendra Rao, Ramewshwarm Cafe owner and CEO told the news agency PTI.
“With the blessings of Shiva…today being Shivaratri, from tomorrow we are launching our outlet with the national anthem,” Rao said.
Bengaluru Cafe blast: Suspect without hat and mask footage revealed in new CCTV image, NIA announces cash reward
The explosion in the cafe occurred at around 1 pm on March 1, and police identified a suspect in CCTV footage seen placing a bag inside the cafe. At least nine people were injured in the low-intensity blast during the busy lunch hour.
On March 3, the ministry of home affairs handed over the investigation into the blast to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Before the handover, the Bengaluru Police had filed a case under the rigorous Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act. The cops had also identified a suspect in CCTV footage seen placing a bag inside the cafe. The police investigation suggested that the explosion was caused by an IED device with a timer.
Bengaluru Cafe Blast: Suspect Caught on CCTV, Investigation Intensifies
Later, the NIA officials probing the blast learnt that the man who planted the bomb travelled to Ballari from where he is suspected to have gone to Pune. While it is not clear how he reached the Maharashtra city, he is found to have boarded a bus heading for Gokarna in Karnataka on March 1 night.
Additionally, the central probe agency announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information regarding the bomber responsible for the blast. The NIA said the identity of the informant will be kept confidential.
“NIA announces a cash reward of Rs. 10 lakh for information about the bomber in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case of Bengaluru. Informant’s identity will be kept confidential,” the investigation agency said in a post on X, (formerly Twitter).