Bengaluru Rameshwaram cafe blast: NIA announces ₹10 lakh reward for information on bomber

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a cash reward of 10 lakh rupees for information about the suspected bomber in The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru. The NIA has said that the informant's identity would be kept confidential.

The blast at the popular eatery, The Rameshwaram Cafe, in Bengaluru on March 1 left nine people injured, and the police have launched a probe from all angles after it emerged that an earlier suspected gas leak was not the cause of the explosion.

The nine people injured in the blast included seven customers. 

The Rameshwaram Cafe is located in Whitefield's Brookfield area in Bengaluru, a vibrant neighbourhood, a business centre and a tech hub.

The Karnataka Police suspect that a bag placed at the cafe with a possible improvised explosive device (IED) could have exploded. Among those grievously injured was a woman who was sitting near the bag that contained the IED.

Officials from the local unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have examined the blast site.

According to The Rameshwaram Cafe owners, the explosion was caused by the bag placed by a customer. A CCTV video of the incident showed an explosion, leading to smoke and panic-stricken customers and others fleeing the place.

Immediately after the blast, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said investigation is on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at The Rameshwaram Cafe, and added that it might have been caused by an IED.

The Karnataka CM had also revealed that one person wearing a mask and cap had come by bus who is suspected to be behind the blast. 

CM Siddaramaiah further informed that the masked man, "bought rava Idly from the counter at the cafe and sat down at a place. Then he had set the timer and gone." 

He further revealed that the security cameras captured the visuals, and the culprit could be seen “alighting from the bus, purchasing tiffin at the eatery, sitting at a place and placing a bag."

The incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate, Siddaramaiah said, adding strict action would be taken against those involved.

The Rameshwaram Cafe co-founder on March 2 said the cafe is set to reopen again on March 8.