Misinformation Spread as NIA Provides Update on Investigation Progress
Claims surfaced on social media this week alleging that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested a BJP leader from Thirthahalli in connection with last month's bombing at a cafe in Bengaluru. However, these claims appear to be unfounded based on the official information released by the NIA so far.
The viral posts cited a supposed NIA press release stating that the agency had identified two accused - Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Taahaa of Thirthahalli - as being responsible for the March 1st IED blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe on ITPL Road in Whitefield. The claims further alleged a BJP leader from Thirthahalli was among those arrested.
However, cross-checking the NIA's official press releases and statements, there is no mention of any arrests of political party members related to this case as of April 5th, 2024. The NIA has confirmed arresting one accused conspirator named Muzammil Shareef from Chikkamagaluru on March 26th for providing logistical support, but no other arrests have been disclosed.
In its latest update on April 5th, the NIA stated it has conducted searches across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to locate and apprehend the two absconding accused identified as the main perpetrators - Shazib and Taahaa. Rewards have been announced for information leading to their arrests.
The agency also cautioned against circulating unverified claims which could hamper the ongoing investigation into the terror incident. It urged the public not to spread rumors and to refer only to official NIA sources for case updates.
While investigations are still underway, no reputable sources have corroborated the social media allegations about a BJP politician's arrest so far. The claims appear to be unsubstantiated and potentially amount to misinformation being spread online.
This publication will continue monitoring official channels for any confirmed updates in this high-profile case. However, readers should be wary of unauthenticated claims circulating on social media surrounding such sensitive cases.
