A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was on Monday dispatched to Patna to formally take over the probe into the Patna serial blasts. At least three suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the blasts.
“A team from the Lucknow unit, headed by an officer of Deputy Inspector-General rank, will conduct the investigations. Some officers from the NIA headquarters are also being sent to assist the team. The probe will be initiated formally once the case file is handed over to the team by the Bihar Police. The papers may be transferred to us by Tuesday,” said an NIA official. The team boarded a flight to Patna on Monday evening.
The agency had earlier sent a team to examine the explosion sites, hours after the blasts on October 27.
The Bihar Police had earlier received the Centre’s order for handing over the investigation to the NIA on October 31. However, agency sources said it was yet to receive all the documents pertaining to the probe conducted so far by the Patna Police.