After NIA arrests Bengaluru blast suspects, BJP, TMC trade charges
What's the story
The arrest of two key suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case from Kolkata has sparked a political feud between West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The feud started after BJP leader Amit Malviya called West Bengal a "safe haven for terrorists."
"NIA detains two chief suspects...Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa, from Kolkata. West Bengal, unfortunately, under Mamata Banerjee, has become a safe haven for terrorists," Malviya wrote on X.
Defense
Chief Minister Banerjee defends West Bengal
Responding to Malviya's comments at a rally, Chief Minister Banerjee clarified that the arrested individuals were not residents of Bengal but were merely hiding there and were apprehended within two hours.
Banerjee further questioned the safety of states governed by the BJP, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar.
The West Bengal Police also quickly responded to Malviya's charges, calling them "falsehood at its worst!"
Rebuttal
TMC and West Bengal Police refute BJP's allegations
"Contrary to the claims made by @amitmalviya, the fact is that, two suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case have been arrested from Purba Medinipur in a JOINT operation by the West Bengal Police and the Central Intelligence Agencies," it said.
"West Bengal has NEVER been a safe haven for terrorists and the state police will continue to remain ever-vigilant in keeping its people safe from nefarious activities," the post added.
Suspects arrested
Suspects arrested a month after the blast
The suspects, Taha and Shajib, were arrested on Friday, a month after the blast at the Bengaluru cafe, which injured at least 10 individuals.
The suspects, Abdul Mateen Taha and Musavir Hussain Shajib, were tracked down by the NIA to their hideout near Kolkata.
According to the NIA, Shajib planted the improvised explosive device (IED) at the cafe while Taha orchestrated the entire operation.
The IED was hidden in a tiffin box bag and wrapped in fibrous material.
Custody
NIA gets 3-day remand of suspects
On Friday afternoon, a metropolitan court in Kolkata gave the NIA a three-day transit remand of the two prime suspects.
The two suspects in the Bengaluru cafe blast case underwent medical tests at a state-run hospital before appearing in the metropolitan court.
They were transferred to Bankshall court for transit remand, according to an NIA lawyer.