New Delhi, 13th December, 2023 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday charge-sheeted seven accused in the case relating to an explosion in a Litchi Orchard behind Rameswarpur High School in Beldanga area of Murshidabad, West Bengal.
The explosion took place accidentally on 17th January 2022 when the accused were in the process of preparing iron socket bombs in the orchard behind the school, located in village Rameswarpur, Babta-ll Gram Panchayat, Murshidabad, WB.
Two of the accused, lyasuddin Sk @ Chadi and Sukchand Ali were injured in the blast, and the former succumbed to his injuries later. The duo had been fabricating the bombs, along with another accused, Mansur Ali @ Mansur Sheikh and others, behind the school when the explosion occurred.
In his dying statement, lyasuddin Sk had revealed that he had been induced to make the bombs by one Imdadul Hoque @ Imdarul Hoque @ Anaj Master, and some others. Imdadul had also provided the explosives and other bomb making materials for the job.
A total of 75 live socket bombs and other incriminating materials were initially seized from the crime spot. Subsequently, based on the disclosures of two other accused, identified as Masadul Hoque @ Masadul Sk and Habibur Rahaman @ Habu, the police also recovered 12 iron pipes from the spot. Another accused, Tahabul Sk, led the police to the recovery of 35 live iron stick bombs in two lots, on 28th March and 31st March 2022, respectively. All seized live bombs were disposed off, after being rendered safe.
As per NIA investigations, all the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to fabricate and store bombs for use in terror acts with the objective of spread fear among the local populace of Rameswarpur and to establish their dominance in the entire area.
NIA had taken over and re-registered the case as RC-44/2022/NIA/DLI on 20th September 2022. While the charges against lyasuddin Sk @ Chadi stand abetted due to his death, the others face prosecution under various sections of IPC, Explosive Substances Act and UA(P) Act.
