Inside The 42-Day Hideout: How Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe Blast Mastermind, Bomber Stayed A Step Ahead?

In a major development, authorities have revealed how the two men arrested for the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast evaded capture for a staggering 42 days. Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Taahaa employed a series of cunning tactics to stay under the radar, according to intelligence sources, as reported by CNN-News18.

Budget-Friendly Stays, Cryptocurrency And More

Shazib and Taahaa prioritised discretion over comfort. They opted for budget-friendly stays in guesthouses and lodges, costing as little as Rs 400-500 per night. They also minimised phone usage and chose to travel by road, blending in with crowds at popular tourist destinations. Their financial transactions were also shrouded in secrecy, possibly involving cryptocurrencies linked to a handler's account.

The Escape Plan: Shazib and Taahaa's Strategic Choices After Rameshwaram Cafe Blast

Following the blast, Shazib boarded a Bengaluru state transport bus (BMTC), heading to Goraguntepalya before transferring to another bus bound for Tumkur. His evasion continued through Ballari and Kalaburagi, eventually crossing state borders into Andhra Pradesh and arriving in Nellore. From there, he traveled to Kolkata via Odisha.

On the other hand, Taahaa, chose a different path, reaching Kolkata via Tamil Nadu, according to sources.

Despite being in constant contact over the phone after the blast, Shazib and Taahaa finally met in Kolkata, where they sought shelter in a secretive hideout.

Fake Ids with different surnames

The investigation revealed a deliberate strategy of deception. The duo lacked a fixed itinerary, constantly moving and choosing new locations on the fly. To further avoid detection, they used a variety of fake IDs with different surnames like Patel, Dass, and Agarwal, adapting to the local demographics. Their longest stay in Digha, West Bengal, may have proven to be their mistake, according to CNN-News18 reports. After the blast, they are believed to have traveled to Chennai, Odisha, and finally West Bengal.

Intelligence sources suggest the men weren't driven by financial desperation, hinting at a possible plan for another attack. Their capture is a big win for investigative agencies who are piecing together the bigger picture.

Small Clue, Big Break: The Cap Purchase That Cracked The Case

The breakthrough came from a cap purchased in Chennai Mall. This, combined with the pattern of staying in unverified guesthouses, led authorities to focus on small towns with unchecked lodging facilities. This relentless pursuit ultimately led to their capture in Digha.

The cafe blast left ten people injured, but it has since reopened with heightened security measures. The arrested men, residents of Thirthahalli, Karnataka, are believed to have links to the 2022 Mangaluru blast. Authorities suspect they may have been planning a more significant attack with the help of a foreign-based handler. They have been granted a three-day transit remand to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by a Kolkata court. The investigation is ongoing, with the hope of bringing all those involved to justice.