NIA begins probe in Malegaon's 'bomb'

MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday began its probe into a bomb found on the staircase of Mohammediya Mosque on September 13, 2006. The bomb did not explode and was defused by bomb detection squad officials.
The Malegaon police had, in 2006, arrested two persons - Noor-ul-Huda and Raees Rajjab Ali - in the case. Later, the duo was also booked for Malegaon's serial bomb blasts which killed 31 and injured 297.
"The NIA team arrived in Malegaon three days ago and is familiarizing itself with the city and the case," said a source.
Khaleel Abbas, a journalist from Malegaon, was first to alert the police about the fake bomb. "I had called up the police who cordoned off the entire area and the bomb was defused," said Abbas. Initially the bomb was termed a fake one. Later, the Nasik Forensic Science Laboratory said they had found traces of RDX in it, and a few wires and timers connected to each other, kept in a box filled with mud.