Mumbai blast suspect held in BengalBEHRAMPORE: National Investigation Agency sleuths have arrested a man from Suti in Murshidabad district of West Bengal for allegedly supplying explosive-grade ammonium nitrate to the July 13 Mumbai serial blasts bombers.
The local police had no clue to the operation until two NIA officers arrested Jiarat Sheikh from his village and produced him in court for transit remand.
A Jangipur court granted the NIA a three-day transit remand to take Jiarat to Delhi for interrogation.
Jiarat, in his early 30s, believed all long that he was dealing with two terror operatives, who would buy explosives in bulk. The NIA sleuths arrived in Murshidabad a few days ago, following a lead given by a suspect arrested earlier for the blasts that killed 26 people.
On Wednesday, they reached Notun Chandra village in Suti police station area and passed the word that they were looking for ammonium nitrate. They were told to contact Jiarat, who has "experience in such matters". Jiarat was only too eager to show them some "high quality" samples. Happy to have got such customers who promised to pay just about anything for the right stuff, Jiarat reappeared on Thursday with explosives-grade ammonium nitrate and was handcuffed.
"We were not aware of the operation in Suti on Wednesday. We learnt of the arrest only after Jiarat was produced in court on Thursday. That is also when we came to know of the charges against him," said Ananda Roy, Jangipur SDPO.
According to one of the NIA sleuths, Jiarat and the location of Notun Chandra village matched the descriptions given by the suspect already in custody. Villagers said they were aware that Jiarat supplied bomb-making material to local goons, but they had never suspected that he was involved with terrorists. The police said Jiarat was arrested three years ago for supplying raw material to bomb makers but was released after three months for lack of evidence.
"Once it is established that Jiarat supplied explosives to the Mumbai bombers, we shall try to find out if he supplied ammonium nitrate to those involved in terror strikes in the past as well. He must have had other contacts, or else how would terror outfits get to know his location in this remote part of the state," an NIA officer asked.
Courtesy : Times of India.
The local police had no clue to the operation until two NIA officers arrested Jiarat Sheikh from his village and produced him in court for transit remand.
A Jangipur court granted the NIA a three-day transit remand to take Jiarat to Delhi for interrogation.
Jiarat, in his early 30s, believed all long that he was dealing with two terror operatives, who would buy explosives in bulk. The NIA sleuths arrived in Murshidabad a few days ago, following a lead given by a suspect arrested earlier for the blasts that killed 26 people.
On Wednesday, they reached Notun Chandra village in Suti police station area and passed the word that they were looking for ammonium nitrate. They were told to contact Jiarat, who has "experience in such matters". Jiarat was only too eager to show them some "high quality" samples. Happy to have got such customers who promised to pay just about anything for the right stuff, Jiarat reappeared on Thursday with explosives-grade ammonium nitrate and was handcuffed.
"We were not aware of the operation in Suti on Wednesday. We learnt of the arrest only after Jiarat was produced in court on Thursday. That is also when we came to know of the charges against him," said Ananda Roy, Jangipur SDPO.
According to one of the NIA sleuths, Jiarat and the location of Notun Chandra village matched the descriptions given by the suspect already in custody. Villagers said they were aware that Jiarat supplied bomb-making material to local goons, but they had never suspected that he was involved with terrorists. The police said Jiarat was arrested three years ago for supplying raw material to bomb makers but was released after three months for lack of evidence.
"Once it is established that Jiarat supplied explosives to the Mumbai bombers, we shall try to find out if he supplied ammonium nitrate to those involved in terror strikes in the past as well. He must have had other contacts, or else how would terror outfits get to know his location in this remote part of the state," an NIA officer asked.
Courtesy : Times of India.
