NIA to probe possible tampering of evidence

NEW DELHI: In what may lead to more trouble for the West Bengal government and the state police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said it would probe the possibility of a conspiracy to allegedly mishandle evidence in the Burdwan blast case.

“The NIA will definitely look into the allegations of mishandling of evidence in the case during initial stages of the probe. The agency wants to see whether there was a conspiracy behind it. But first on the agency’s agenda is completion of probe against arrested accused. The agency will see whether there was a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence or it was just a professional mishandling,” said Union home ministry official requesting anonymity.

Last week, Union home ministry transferred the blast probe to the NIA without waiting for the consent of the WB government.

Four persons, including two women, have so far been arrested in connection with the grenade explosion at Khagragarh in Burdwan district that left two suspected terrorists dead.

The opposition parties in Bengal have been alleging that the state police destroyed some improvised explosive devices recovered from the house of accused in a hurry.

“This is the biggest probe given to the NIA and it might take at least two years to get completed. The agency has deployed 12 IPS officers, one inspector general and three deputy inspectors general along with nine superintend ents of police rank officials to crack the case. Teams have been formed to pursue all leads that have been surfac ing from Jammu and Kashmir Tamil Nadu, Assam and of course Bangladesh,” added the official.