The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made further progress in the investigation of the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru. On Tuesday, they detained an individual named Shabbir from the Cowl Bazaar area in Ballari for questioning. Shabbir’s recent travel history raised suspicions regarding his possible involvement in the blast.

This development comes after the joint efforts of the NIA and the Central Crime Branch led to the detention of a cloth merchant from Kaul Bazaar in Ballari and a cadre associated with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) last week. Sources within the investigating teams suggest that one of the detainees, believed to be an active member of PFI, might have played a role in orchestrating the blast.

The detained PFI cadre is suspected of having connections with terrorist organizations and allegedly influencing individuals, including the perpetrator of the attack. The NIA had previously released images of a main suspect in the blast, urging citizens to come forward with any information. The suspect, depicted wearing a pink T-shirt and blue jeans, was seen in CCTV footage near the scene of the crime.

The Rameshwaram cafe, which witnessed the explosion on March 1, resumed its operations last Friday after implementing stringent security measures. Owner Raghavendra Rao assured the public of their safety as they reopened for business. The blast had injured ten people, prompting the NIA to offer a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the apprehension of the suspect.