The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that misinformation pertaining to a case hampers investigation. The statement came after news of a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, Sai Prasad, being detained by the NIA in the Rameshwaram blast case did the rounds.
“NIA has been examining all of the acquaintances including college and school time friends of the absconding and arrested accused persons,” a statement from the NIA said.
“The case being a terror incident, any information on the identity of the witnesses may apart from hampering investigation also put at risk the individuals being summoned. Also, unverified news items hamper effective investigations in the case. NIA requests the cooperation of all in the arrest of absconding accused persons,” the statement added.
The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast occurred on March 1 at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in the Brookefield area injuring 10, as per the police. After initial investigations by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police, the probe was handed over to NIA.
Till now, the NIA has arrested a resident of Khalsa, Chikkamagaluru, Muzammil Shareef in the case. Shareef was the prime conspirator who provided logistical support to Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the suspected bomber, and co-conspirator Abdul Matheen Taahaa. He was arrested after NIA raided 18 places in different parts of the country, including 12 in Karnataka.
On March 29, the NIA also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for Shazib and Taahaa, who have been at large since 2019. As per the NIA, Shazeeb hails from Masjid Road in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, and Matheen from Fish Market Road, Soppu Gude, Thirthahalli Rural. They are also said to be handlers of the Shivamogga ISIS module.
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