Bengaluru: In a significant development in Bengaluru’s Rameswaram cafe bomb blast case, three accused have been arrested by Ashoknagar cops for pro-Pakistan sloganeering in the Karnataka assembly. 

The arrested persons have been identified as Iltaj, Munnawar and Mohammed Nashipudi. 

Iltaj belonged to New Delhi, while , Munnawar and Mohammed Nashipudi belonged to Karnataka's RT Nagar and Byadagi respectively. 

In another development reported earlier today, the footage of the suspect alighting from a bus at Kundalahalli bus stand before carrying out the blast, has been accessed. Further investigation by CCB investigation teams underway.

Meanwhile, the probe into the blast at Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), sources said. This development comes a day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his government may consider handing over the probe to the NIA if the need arises.

In the video, the suspect can be seen alighting the bus and walking towards the cafe. The suspected bomber took the same route to exit the cafe. He exited the cafe within a time frame of only 9 minutes. 

Here is the detailed timeline of suspect 

• At 11.34am, he gets off the bus and enters the cafe.
• When he enters the cafe he's seen speaking on his mobile phone.
• He exits the hotel at 11.43am.
• The suspect carries a bag on his back when he arrives at the hotel.
• He had another bag inside his backpack.
• He places the bag with the bomb in it and carries the backpack while exiting the cafe.

So far, Karnataka Police's investigation of the blast has been assisted by officials of the NIA, National Security Group (NSG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). Soon after the blast, the Karnataka Police registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act.

The explosion is suspected to be carried out through an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). At least 10 people were injured when a blast took place at Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookfield in East Bengaluru on March 1.  

The NIA officials have submitted an FIR copy to a special court and another copy to Karnataka DG Alok Mohan. The special court is likely to order the transfer of the probe from today. The notice is likely to be issued to transfer the FIR registered at HAL police station to NIA.

Mangaluru cooker blast case accused quizzed

Meanwhile, the cops interrogated the Mangaluru cooker blast case accused Shareeq who is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara jail on Sunday.

Shareeq had not revealed anything to the cops. The investigation agencies are looking at similarities between Shivamogga, Mangaluru and Bengaluru explosions. The agencies have made it clear that this was not a crude bomb explosion in Bengaluru.

The officials, who were part of investigation in Shivamogga and Mangaluru blasts, have also been roped in to probe the Bengaluru blast. The Timer, internal relay circuit and wires used for Bengaluru blast bore resemblance to the ones used for Mangaluru and Shivamogga blasts.

The modules were not able to crack the timers in the previous two blasts. This time around the suspected Ballari ISIS module has cracked the timer code.

For the Mangaluru bomb blast, Shareeq had set the timer of the cooker bomb to 90 minutes but the bomb exploded within 9 seconds.

Shivamogga trial blasts were conducted on the banks of Tungabhadra river and after that they employed the same technique to conduct explosion in Mangaluru but the timer didn't work and misfired.