The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday filed a charge sheet against the first accused in connection with the last year’s Patna serial blasts case. The agency has so far arrested eight suspects for their alleged involvement in the explosions.
“Investigation of the cases relating to the serial bomb blasts at Gandhi Maidan in Patna and the Patna railway station was handed over to NIA. During the probe, eight accused persons were arrested, of whom one succumbed to the injuries sustained while planting a bomb at the railway station,” said a NIA official.
Since the investigation in respect of one of the accused persons, Imtiyaz Ansari, a resident of Dhurwa in Ranchi (Jharkhand), has been completed, the agency filed the charge sheet against him under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Explosive Substances Act and other legislations in a NIA special court.
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“Investigations revealed that Imtiyaz along with others had planted the bombs at the Patna railway station and in the hunkar rally of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Imtiyaz was associated with the Students Islamic Movement of India and also had had very close links with the members of Indian Mujahideen,” said an NIA release.
Cash rewards ranging from Rs. 5-10 lakh have been declared for the arrest of the absconding accused persons, including Mujibulla, Hyder Ali, Numan and Taufiq Ansari. “Efforts are being made to track them down,” an official added.