FOUR ISLAMIC STATE SUSPECTS DETAINED IN BENGALURU BLAST INVESTIGATION

 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained four jailed suspects linked to the Islamic State’s Ballari module for interrogation in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru. The blast, which occurred on March 1, resulted in 10 injuries. The suspects, including Minaz alias Sulaiman, Syed Sameer, Anas Iqbal Sheikh, and Shaan Rehaman, were arrested last year following raids in 19 locations across five states. 

The NIA obtained custody of these individuals until March 9 for further investigation, after petitioning for a body warrant. Recent CCTV footage revealed one of the suspects at the scene of the blast on the day it occurred. Minaz, the leader of the Ballari module, along with Sameer, who also belongs to the region, Anas from Mumbai, and Shaan from Delhi, are currently held in jails in their respective states.

The arrests last year also led to the apprehension of eight Islamic State operatives involved in promoting terrorist activities. The raids yielded explosive materials, incriminating documents, and unaccounted cash. Minaz, formerly associated with the Popular Front of India (PFI), transitioned to the Ballari module after PFI was banned for five years in 2022 due to significant threats.

As the PFI’s Ballari secretary, Minaz focused on radicalizing youth and recruiting them into the Islamic State. His influence extended beyond Karnataka, reaching Mumbai, Jharkhand, Pune, and Delhi. The NIA suspects that the Ballari module, under Minaz’s leadership, orchestrated the Rameshwaram Cafe blast as part of their larger terror agenda.