Burdwan blast probe: India to hand over dossier to Bangladesh for countering JMB

New Delhi: India will be handing over a dossier to Bangladesh government for preventive steps and necessary action needed to be taken by Dhaka to counter the threat posed by Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangaldesh (JMB). [caption id=“attachment_1776927” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Taking the issue seriously, the Centre had deputed National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to visit Burdwan for having a first-hand knowledge of the conspiracy being hatched by alleged cadres of JMB to target Bangaldesh government from Indian soil, official sources said on Tuesday. The Narendra Modi government has made it clear that it will have friendly relations with all neighbouring countries and following that policy, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been asked to complete the investigation into the 2 October blast as soon as possible so that all contours of the international terror conspiracy are exposed, the sources said. Doval, who had a lengthy meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee on Monday, explained to her about the deep-rooted conspiracy being hatched from West Bengal to target installations in neighbouring Bangaldesh. During the meeting, Banerjee admitted lapses at the initial stage of the probe into the blast and expressed her displeasure against the local police for the manner in which they had handled the case, sources privy to the development said. Banerjee was particularly upset with the local police for their inability to recover a sack containing 40 improvised hand grenades. It was unearthed by NIA nearly a week after the October two explosion at the Burdwan house. Besides, the key mastermind of the whole plot, Sheikh Kausar, could manage to flee from the area apparently due to alleged lackadaisical approach of West Bengal Police, the sources said. Sources said Kausar was hiding in Birbhum in West Bengal till 5 October but fled from there too later. Banerjee, whose government had initially opposed NIA probe, was extremely patient during the meeting with the NSA and understood all angles of the probe especially its international ramification, the sources said. With JMB suspected to be having a pan-India presence, the sources said that module in West Bengal has been active for the last three years and the house where the blast took place was taken on rent of Rs 4,200 per month since July from a person who is also supporter of ruling Trinamool Congress. Kausar and his accomplices took the house on rent ostensibly for setting up a unit to make ‘burqa’ (veil). India has also sought details about the interrogation report of two JMB militants Asif Adnan (26) and Fazle Elahi Tanjil (24) who were arrested from Segunbagicha area of Dhaka city. Their interrogation made lead the probe agencies to locate at least 120 IEDs to Bangladesh which were transported in four batches. So far, 10 people were arrested, including six in Assam, in connection with the Burdwan blast. NIA was looking for at least 30 more suspects. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry is planning to hand over the case in Assam, where six people were arrested, also to NIA as the case has direct link with the Burdwan blast case and the state government seems to have no objection to it. PTI