Kolkata Police arrests Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terrorist, a key suspect Bodh gaya blast

KOLKATA: Acting on a tip-off, the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police arrested one of the key accused in Bodh Gaya blast that took place earlier this year during Dalai Lama's visit.

Hazibulla, a member of terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), was arrested from Bandel Railway Station in West Bengal's Hooghly district, from the ticket counter on Sunday night. The 57-year-old accused is a resident of Samsherganj of Murshidabad district.

"He (Hazibulla) had helped in procuring explosive that was used by JMB cadre in Bodh Gaya mines," said DC (STF) Murlidhar Sharma told DNA.

Earlier this year, on January 19, during Dalai Lama's visit, a blast took place at Kalchakra ground in Bodh Gaya. 

Cops later arrested Paigambar Sk and Jamirul Sk from Murshidabad and Darjeeling, respectively, with a large cache of explosives and other equipment.

Hazibulla was also present with the main accused during the blast, sources in the STF said.

Following the blast, Hazibullah took shelter in Hooghly and was secretly working as a recruitment agent for the terror outfit in the district. 

The police acted on a tip-off from another Bangladeshi resident, Noor Alam, who had been recently arrested in the case. 

Hazibullah was presented at the court on Monday and has been sent for 14 days in police custody. He has been charged with section 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war), 121A (conspiracy to wage war), and 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Explosive Act.