Argus News - NIA Begins Probe Into Bhubaneswar Blast That Killed Two In January

Bhubaneswar, Apr 9: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun its probe into the January blast in Bhubaneswar that left two persons dead, officials said on Thursday.

NIA Team Collects Key Documents
A three-member NIA team visited the Airfield police station and collected crucial documents, including FIRs and forensic reports, related to the explosion that occurred in Azad Nagar on January 27.

According to a senior police officer, investigators had earlier inspected the blast site and examined CCTV footage and forensic evidence as part of a preliminary inquiry.

“As per the legal procedure, the case is being handed over to the NIA. Whatever documents they will ask for, we will provide to them,” ACP (Zone 2) Krushna Chandra Palei said.

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Focus On Terror Angle, Explosive Material
Officials said the central agency has sought the transfer of the case to conduct a detailed probe into a possible terror angle behind the incident.

The NIA is expected to examine links to larger criminal networks and verify whether high-grade explosives such as RDX were used in the blast.

Blast Occurred During Suspected Bomb Assembly
Earlier investigations by the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police revealed that the explosion took place when the prime suspect, Shahnawaz Malik (26), was allegedly assembling an explosive device on the rooftop of a rented house.

Malik, a history-sheeter, and a woman identified as Lizatun Bibi later succumbed to burn injuries sustained in the blast, while two others survived.

“Though it is suspected that Malik may have used some high-grade explosive material, it is yet to be confirmed whether that was RDX,” the officer added.