Lucknow’s NIA unit conducted a raid on Wednesday at the residence of a preacher in Bareilly, questioning him extensively regarding the Bengaluru cafe blast on March 1. Senior police officials disclosed on Thursday that the preacher came under scrutiny as his mobile phone was tracked to Karnataka on the day of the explosion.
The NIA team, stationed in Bareilly since Tuesday, initiated the raid early Wednesday morning, targeting the preacher’s house in Dhaura Tanda town under the Bhojipura police station limits. However, upon arrival, the preacher was not found at home. Subsequently, he was located at a place of worship and escorted to the Bhojipura police station for interrogation.
During the approximately five-hour interrogation, the NIA scrutinized the preacher’s activities and questioned his presence in Karnataka at the time of the blast. According to sources, the preacher claimed he was engaged in preaching activities at a centre in Karnataka and returned to Bareilly afterwards.
Following the questioning, the NIA instructed the preacher not to leave Bareilly without informing the authorities. Local law enforcement was directed to monitor his movements and alert the NIA if he attempted to leave the city.
A source familiar with the matter stated that if the preacher’s involvement in the investigation emerges, the NIA might take further action against him.
In parallel, the NIA conducted raids across multiple locations nationwide linked to the blast case. The explosion, characterized by a low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED), occurred at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, resulting in injuries to at least 10 individuals. The NIA suspects the involvement of the IS Shivamogga module and Al-Hind module in the blast.
In response to the incident, the NIA announced a bounty of ₹10 lakh for any information regarding the bomber. Additionally, the agency released a photograph of the suspected bomber, captured from CCTV footage placing a bag in the Rameshwaram Cafe.
The ongoing investigation underscores the NIA’s efforts to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act and ensure the safety and security of citizens.
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