A top India operative of Jamaat-ul-Mujhahiddin Bangladesh (JMB) has been arrested near Bengaluru by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with recovery of two bombs in Bodh Gaya in Bihar in January last, the NIA said on Tuesday.
Mohammed Jahidul Islam alias Kausar of was picked up from his rented house near Ramanagara area on Monday, by an NIA team.
Some electronic devices and “traces” of explosives, were recovered during a search of the house.
According to a release from the NIA, 38-year old Islam was the mastermind in the Bodh Gaya blasts case, and on his directions, his close associate, Mustafizur Rehman alias Shahin, arranged and assembled the bombs, which were found on January 20 when the Dalai Lama was on a visit to the pilgrimage town. The bombs were later deactivated.
“He is the top leader of JMB in India and is wanted in the Burdwan blast case and in many other cases in Bangladesh also,” the release said.
Islam was produced before the Special Court for NIA cases in Bengaluru, which granted five days of transit remand of him. He would now be produced before the Special NIA Court in Patna, the release said.
Police said Islam was living with his two wives at Ramanagara.
After the Bodh Gaya incident, he was in hiding somewhere in Jharkhand and later moved to Ramanagara.
“He was staying here as a tenant for the past two months,” the police said.
The NIA had registered an FIR in February last under IPC sections, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act.
The world-renowned Buddhist pilgrimage town of Bodh Gaya was rocked by a series of blasts on July 7, 2013 . Though there were no casualties, several people, including some monks, were injured.
