Patna Flat Blast: ‘Good quality’ IEDs used, says NIA

Investigators are probing if the IED blasts were meant to target BJP’s rally.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team that visited Patna following a bomb explosion in a housing colony Monday night has found that the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were of “good quality” and its explosive components were unlike others used in recent blasts. A terror angle couldn’t be ruled out, they said.

“The Patna blast needs to be probed closely as the IEDs found were of a good quality. Ammonium nitrate was used along with fuel oil, which we have not come across in other cases. Usually we have encountered ammonium nitrate with sulphur. In this case, potassium chlorate has also been found. Lotus Brand clocks were used as timers in the IEDs,” an NIA source revealed. The NIA team returned to Delhi Wednesday.

With BJP president Amit Shah due to hold a rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on April 14 ahead of state elections later this year, investigators are probing if the IEDs were meant to target the rally.

NIA sources also said they were not inclined to believe one line of investigation that was allegedly being pursued initially by the local police. “One theory that was initially being explored was that one of the suspects Kundan Kumar had taken a sizeable amount of money from several people by promising them recruitment into police. With the recruitment process about to begin, he was afraid he could not make good on his promises. He might have prepared IEDs to set off explosions to derail the recruitment process. This, however, seems extremely unlikely,” said a source.

A part of a timer bomb disintegrated Monday night at a flat in Bahadurpur Housing Colony under Agamkuan police station area in Patna. Subsequently, two other IEDs were recovered. The flat, occupied by Kundan Kumar, was used for running a coaching institute. Kundan was arrested for impersonation last year. Ashok Kumar, Hemant Kumar and another suspect are believed to have been occupying the flat with Kundan.

Sources said that a mobile phone and a SIM card have been recovered from the flat.

BJP stalls House proceedings

The Opposition BJP stalled House proceedings over the bomb explosion in a house in Agamkuan, Patna, on Monday evening. BJP Assembly Opposition leader Nand Kishore Yadav took up the matter in Assembly. He later went to the well of House. The Speaker was forced to adjourn House proceedings because of commotion.

With inputs from Express News Sevice

Source:: Indian Express