India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) formally charged four individuals on Tuesday in connection with a bombing that occurred at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, India, in March 2023. The bast caused nine casualties, none fatal.

The accused are identified as Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed, and Muzammil Shareef. According to the NIA, Shazib is believed to have planted the explosive device, while Taaha is considered the mastermind behind the operation. According to the chargesheet, both men reportedly received funds through cryptocurrencies from their associates to facilitate the attack. The attack was said to have been undertaken at the behest of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

The investigation revealed that the bombing was planned following a failed improvised explosive device (IED) attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) office in Bengaluru on January 22, 2024. This date coincided with a nationally significant religious ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, which heightened tensions in the region.

The blast occurred on March 1, 2024, at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, India, injuring at least nine people. The Bengaluru Police launched a manhunt using AI and CCTV footage, but the case was later handed over to the NIA. The investigative agency arrested Muzammil Shareef, who allegedly provided logistical support to Shazib and Taaha, in late March. Shazib and Taaha, who had been on the run since 2020 in connection with multiple terror cases, were arrested near Kolkata in April 2024 following a coordinated effort by the NIA, central intelligence agencies, and state police agencies.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a specialized counter-terrorism law enforcement agency in India. A written proclamation from the Ministry of Home Affairs empowers the agency to investigate terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the states.