Burdwan blast: 21 people chargesheeted

The NIA said in a statement: "The National Investigation Agency, today filed a charge sheet in the Court of NIA Special Judge, Kolkata in the case no. RC-03/2014/NIA/DLI Burdwan Blast case. The charge sheet has been filed against twenty one individuals – including four Bangladeshi nationals, for their involvement in the conspiracy of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (Bangladesh) (JMB), a
proscribed terrorist organization in Bangladesh, to overthrow the existing democratic Government in Bangladesh through violent terrorist acts and replace it with a hard-line Sharia based Islamic rule which came to light after the accidental blast."

The NIA said its investigation was spread over number of states has revealed that JMB  has established its network in India primarily in the states of West Bengal, Assam and  Jharkhand. Its activities in India primarily included recruitment, radicalisation and training  of vulnerable youths in a systematic and organised manner.

In pursuance of the conspiracy,  they had established organisational bases at certain districts of West Bengal, Burdwan, Murshidabad and Birbhum as well as in Sahebganj district of Jharkhand.

These bases were used for organising radicalisation programs, organisational meetings, fund collection drives, hideouts for cadres and their families, etc,"read the statement.

A network of terrorist training camps at selected Madrasas and other hideouts was found to be in operation where selected youths were indoctrinated into the violent jihadi ideology as well as trained for violent action by using explosives and firearms.

"The above effort of recruitment, radicalisation and training of vulnerable Indian youths was undertaken by members of JMB for preparing a large group of Indians based on their common religious and linguistic identity, primarily in the Indian
states bordering Bangladesh, to join the JMB and utilise them for the movement to overthrow  the existing democratic government in Bangladesh," read the statement.

"During course of investigation conducted till date, thirty two persons have been arraigned as accused persons. Out of these sixteen have been arrested so far. Against two arrested suspects no evidence was found their having any link with present crime. More than 250 witnesses were examined and around 100 searches were conducted in large number of places across the states of West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand, leading to seizures of huge volumes of documents, computers, explosives, chemicals, arms & ammunition, and other incriminating materials," the NIA said in a statement.

The four Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Sheikh Rahamatullah, Talha Sheikh,Kausar and Nasirullah.

The Burdwan blast incident had taken place on Oct 2 last at Khagragarh area in Burdwan district when the explosion in a house led to the killing of two bomb makers and discovery of a cache of arms and ammunition. 

Several terror modules were busted following the explosion and its investigation.