Bengaluru: In a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key suspect from Karnataka’s Ballari district. NIA took over the blast case on Mar. 3.

Identified as Shabbir, the suspect was taken into custody by the anti-terror agency for his alleged involvement in the low-intensity blast that occurred at the popular cafe on Mar. 1.

The breakthrough came days after NIA shared a picture of the suspect and announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh for information.

On Mar. 1, a photo of the suspect, believed to be around 30 years old, was captured which showed him carrying a plate of idli inside the cafe. He was seen with a shoulder bag suspected to have the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb inside.

In another CCTV footage, the same suspect is seen walking towards the restaurant with a bag. After analysing three more CCTV videos, investigating officials said, the suspect had changed his clothes and appearance multiple times to evade identification after the cafe explosion. The explosion was carried out by triggering an IED bomb using a timer.

Last Saturday, NIA had released 2 videos and pictures of the suspect and sought co-operation of citizens to identify him. In the 49-second video, the suspect is seen boarding a BMTC bus. In the video, the suspect was seen getting up from the middle seat, moving towards the rear end of the vehicle and settling into another seat.

According to sources within the NIA, interrogation of the suspect is currently underway to gather crucial information related to the blast incident. Police sources said Shabir is believed to be an accomplice of the prime suspect who was seen leaving a bag at the cafe on security camera footage just before the blast.

Rameshwaram Cafe resumed operations last week with enhanced security measures. Metal detectors have been installed at the entrance and customers are subjected to screening using hand-held detectors to ensure safety of patrons and staff.

Earlier, NIA officials probing the blast had learnt that the man who planted the bomb travelled to Ballari from where he is suspected to have gone to Pune. While it was not clear how he reached the Maharashtra city, he was found to have boarded a bus heading for Gokarna in   Karnataka on Mar. 1 night.