Burdwan bombs meant for Bangladesh, says NIA

NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: The National Investigation Agency ( NIA) today said the accused persons arrested in the Burdwan blast case and their associates were members of terror group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh, who were preparing IEDs for transporting them to that country for possible terror attacks.

In a statement issued tonight, NIA said it had completed initial phase of probe in the case pertaining to bomb blast in a house at Khagragarh village in Burdawan district of West Bengal which indicates the involvement of JMB cadre.

Two persons--Shakil Ahmed and Suvon Mandal alias Subhan -- both allegedly residents of Bangladesh, were killed while manufacturing IEDs. One person Abdul Hakim alias Hassan was injured and arrested besides three others including two women.

"Investigation so far has revealed that the accused persons and their associates were the members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB), a terrorist organisation proscribed in Bangladesh and they were preparing IEDs which were being transported to Bangladesh," NIA said in the statement.

The agency said it is focussing on the activities of JMB covering all aspects including the funding of terror activities.

NIA said it is also considering announcement of cash rewards for any information leading to the arrest of the absconding accused of this case who include JMB members from Bangladesh.

NIA Chief Sharad Kumar today visited Burdwan and inspected the scene of the incident and also took stock of the field investigation being conducted by the agency. He visited the house where the blast took place, examined the rooms and went up to the terrace of the building.