Kolkata: On August 4, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) made another arrest in connection with the case involving the seizure of electric detonators and explosives in West Bengal. This brings the total number of arrests to eight individuals, according to a statement released by the agency on August 6. The newly apprehended suspect has been identified as Islam Chowdhary, a resident of Birbhum district in West Bengal. He was apprehended at his residence in Baralipara on August 4.
During the arrest, the NIA confiscated various items from Islam’s possession, including ₹1,50,000 in cash, bank transaction records, paper slips bearing mobile numbers, SIM cards, three mobile phones, and other incriminating documents.
The NIA’s investigation into two other suspects, Merajuddin All Khan, also known as Meraj Khan or Meraz Khan, and Mir Md. Nuruzzaman, also known as Romeo, Mir, Jamai, or Prince, led to the recent apprehension of Islam Chowdhary. Meraj and Prince had been arrested by the agency on June 28, 2023.
According to the NIA, their investigations have revealed that Islam Chowdhary played a pivotal role as a conspirator and facilitator in the distribution of explosives in the case registered under the number RC-43/2022/NIA/DLI. This case was initiated by the NIA in September of the previous year following the seizure of a significant quantity of electric detonators, non-electric detonators, and explosives.
The initial seizure involved around 81,000 electric detonators from a vehicle in Birbhum’s Md. Bazar Police Station area. The driver of the vehicle, Ashish Keora, was subsequently arrested. Further searches led to the discovery of an additional 2,525 electric detonators, 27,000 kg of ammonium nitrate, 1,625 kg of gelatin sticks, a pistol with a magazine and four live rounds of ammunition, as well as 16.25 kg of gelatin sticks (a total of 130 in number), and a bag containing 50 kg of ammonium nitrate from illegal storage facilities.
Numerous other individuals have been apprehended in connection with these findings. The NIA’s investigations into the case remain ongoing. In a separate development on August 6, authorities from Birbhum’s Rampurhat police station discovered approximately 60 boxes containing around 12,000 pieces of gelatin sticks in an abandoned house near Radipur village.
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