Khagragarh blast mastermind held

Kolkata: Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police arrested a Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terrorist from Gaya in Bihar on Monday morning.

The accused person, identified as Ejaz Ahmed alias Ezazul, is one of the masterminds of Bodh Gaya and Khagragarh blasts.

According to sources, a few months ago, STF officials came to know that Ahmed was hiding somewhere in Bihar.

However, the police failed to locate him as it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Later, the police decided to seek help from the Bihar Police as well as the Intelligence Branch (IB).

According to the plan, primary help was sought from the Intelligence Branch in Bihar to locate Ahmed's hideout.

Approximately 20 days ago, Bihar IB informed STF about Ahmed's location.

After the information arrived, a special team was formed and members of the team were briefed accordingly. All the members were asked to carefully proceed in the case after reaching Bihar as arrest of Ahmed was essential in order to know their further plans.

A few days ago, the team went to Bihar and got in touch with the IB officials and confirmed Ahmed's location. Following confirmation of Ahmed's location and some other information, STF team approached Bihar Police for assistance. Details of Ahmed along with other information given by the Bihar Intelligence Branch was also provided to the police.

Following that a team was formed by Bihar police which would assist the STF to nab Ahmed. Also, a plan was chalked out on how to raid the hideout. In order to confirm the success, a recce was done in and around the area where IB had located Ahmed.

It was also decided to raid the place during daytime as the accused may flee taking the advantage of darkness during the night.

Later on Monday morning police personnel in plaint cloth surrounded the house where Ahmed was staying at Pathantoli village of Buniyadpur in Gaya. Also, a contingent of Bihar Police was in the second layer in order to block all the exits from the house and the area.

As soon as Ahmed opened the door, he was pushed inside and detained. But Ahmed yelled at STF officials stating that he was an software engineer and a reputed person in the area. Hearing his version, STF members got confused. In order to confirm his identity IB was contacted.

After Ahmed's identity was confirmed, he was brought to the local police station.

He was arrested and was produced before the local court for transit remand, which was granted eventually.

According to STF, Ahmed was the main leader of JMB in India since Kausar was arrested. Ahmed, originally from Panrui in Birbhum, had joined JMB in 2008. He was constantly in touch with JMB leader Salauddin. He had plans to release Kausar from jail.

Several digital documents were seized from him.