New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recovered 18 crude low intensity bombs during investigations into the serial blasts at Narendra Modi’s election rally in Patna last October.
The NIA arrested four persons including the mastermind Hyder Ali alias Black Beauty whose interrogation led to important breakthrough in the case.
In the follow-up action the NIA detained two persons identified, as Ifthekar and Feroz Aslam, on Friday night in Ranchi.
Following their interrogation 18 live bombs were recovered near Sithio village and detonators from Hindpirhi in Jharkhand.
The investigators claimed the bombs were similar to the ones used both in Patna and Bodh Gaya serial bombings.
Investigations by NIA had confirmed that the intent of the serial blasts at the Patna rally was to kill Mr Modi.
The module had also carried out dry runs at five places — Akbarpur, Kanpur, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Delhi and Patna.
But they found it difficult to target Mr Modi in view of his heavy security but could manage to plant the explosives barely 100 metres from the dais at Patna.
Besides Ali, the NIA had also arrested Mojibullah, Numan Ansari and a juvenile, whose identity was not disclosed.
The investigating agency had also announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on these three accused persons.
