Nimtita blast case: NIA charges duo under UAPA

Kolkata: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against two persons in the

Nimtita

, Murshidabad blast case in which Bengal minister Jakir Hossain was severely injured. The duo, the central investigating agency said, had hatched a plot to kill the minister, who was waiting on the platform to catch a train to Kolkata.

The special NIA court allowed the agency to conduct further probe as it thought that several others too could be involved in the conspiracy. Accused Sahidul Islam (35) and Abu Samad (37) are both residents of Suti, Murshidabad. They have been charged under sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Explosives Act, apart from charges for attempt to murder.

“The NIA has filed the chargesheet against the two accused persons within the statutory period of 180 days,” NIA lawyer Shyamal Ghosh said. Special NIA court judge Jiban Kumar Sadhu allowed the agency to continue further investigation.

On February 17, Hossain was at Nimtita station to catch Teesta Torsa Express to Kolkata. Surrounded by nearly 70 party workers, Hossain was walking near platform 2 (from Jangipur end) when a bomb exploded. As many as 22 people were severely injured; Hossain suffered injuries on his hands and legs.

Bengal CID was investigating the case when NIA took over the probe this March.

In its chargesheet, NIA mentioned that investigations so far had revealed that Sahidul and Abu were trying to “strike terror in the minds of people and derail the 2021 assembly election” by deciding to kill Hossain and some supporters.

Sahidul allegedly arranged materials from local shops to make IED and held a series of meetings with Abu to finalise the location. They knew Hossain was generally accompanied to the rail station by a group of supporters who waited until he got on to the train. The duo wanted to take advantage of the situation and mix with the crowd.

During the probe, NIA officials got hold of video clips shot on mobile phones by people at the spot. These clips showed a grey bag-like article that officials suspected had been kept at the station before the minister’s arrival.

Nine days after the blast, CID had arrested the duo. NIA on Tuesday said the two tried to destroy their mobile phones that were used to mislead the probe agency.


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