NIA raids 3 hideouts

Intensifying its probe to connect various links in the Burdwan terror module, the National Investigation Agency officers took a Border Security Force team with them in a marathon raid at three key hideouts in Murshidabad on Sunday and recovered several crucial evidence.

For the last three days, the NIA was assisted by the National Security Guard commandos in the detection and recovery of explosives at the blast site in Khagragarh and Shimulia madrasa in Burdwan.

At around 7 am on Sunday, an NIA team with BSF’s intelligence officials and personnel with a ten- car convoy reached the unlicensed madrasa — Talimul Banatli Hatematuj Johura — at Mukhimnagar village in Lalgola.

The NIA learnt that Mofazzul Hussain, the madrasa founder, was in touch with prime accused Yousuf Sheikh — who visited Mofazzul’s madrasa with his wife Ayesha in the orange Nano, which was recovered recently from Shimulia madrasa. Mofazzul also visited Shimulia madrasa several times.

Mofazzul was running the residential madrasa with around 120 students after building it in 2011. He first opened it in his house in 2008. A notice on the wall of the institute on October 3 said that it would remain closed till October 17 for Id- ul- Zuha.

The investigators searched every nook and corner of the 14 rooms and recovered two gas cylinders, two motorbikes, bunches of jihadi scripts, some of them being half- burnt, and leaflets. Next they raided the house of Mofazzul, alias Laden, who has been absconding and recovered two cellphones, a SIM, a mobile chip, a passbook and some money receipts.

Later, the NIA- BSF joint team went to Beldanga and raided “Burqa Ghar” which had been run by Shakeel Ahmed, one of the two deceased in the blast. A cellphone, a SIM, various carry bags and leaflets were seized. The raid came to an end at around 4.30 pm.

Meanwhile, another NIA team questioned Mithu Sheikh, an aide of the terror accused, and his family members at the office of sub- divisional police officer at Bolpur in Birbhum. Mithu had disappeared in the wake of the blast. The police then summoned him.

During the day, the sleuths inspected the blast site in Burdwan once again and recovered various items close to two dozens.