The National Investigation Agency on Monday arrested Amjad Sheikh (30), suspected to be a member of the banned outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), at Birbhum in West Bengal in connection with the Bardhaman blast case.
Sheikh, a resident of Birbhum, carried a reward of Rs.10 lakh on his head. According to the agency, he was one of the main conspirators in the blast case and was instrumental in procuring explosive chemicals that were being used to configure improvised explosive devices meant for supply to the JMB cadres in Bangladesh.
The accused procured the precursors to explosives from chemical shops in West Bengal. After his name came up during the NIA probe, it conducted searches at his Kolkata residence and recovered receipts/vouchers of chemical purchases. “The chemicals had been used for manufacturing bombs,” said an NIA official.
Sheikh was allegedly part of the JMB brass in India. After the explosion on October 2, he went into hiding and visited Delhi on October 8. He then went to Basti in Uttar Pradesh where he was provided shelter for a few days by a policeman. He then went back to Birbhum where he was arrested.
He was also closely involved in running training modules for the outfit at two madrassas in West Bengal, said the NIA in a press statement.
On Monday evening, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval briefed Gowher Rizvi, Senior Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, about the latest developments in the case.
According to sources, the Bangladesh government has expressed appreciation over India sharing details about the JMB’s activities, including a suspected plot to assassinate Ms. Hasina.
