Burdwan blast: NIA arrests Lalgola madrasa founder
Burdwan blast: NIA arrests Lalgola madrasa founder
NIA sleuths probing the Khagragarh blast presented founder of Lalgola Mokimnagar madrasa, Mofajjul Sheikh (aka Laden), before the ACJM court in Lalbagh Tuesday after he was arrested from Mokimnagar, although intelligence sources revealed Laden surrendered on Monday.
Mofajjul’s counsel, Safikul Islam, said the NIA was attempting to frame him. “Mofajjul has no connection with the Khagragarh explosion. He is an aged person and has surrendered before police and NIA. But NIA is claiming he has been arrested.”
Preliminary investigation revealed one of Laden’s accounts in a Netherlands bank. “Huge amounts of money would regularly be deposited and Mofajjul would withdraw it. We have found the money has been used to train jihadis, make bombs, and to motivate people for jihadi activities,” an officer said.
The Mokimnagar madrasa’s name had surfaced during NIA investigation into October 2, 2014 blast. “Prime accused Yousuf Sheikh frequented the madrasa. Abdul Hakim, who was injured in the Khagragarh explosion, stayed here for months. It was used as a temporary shelter by several top JMB militants,” the officer said.
A cook at the madrasa, Habibur Rahaman, was arrested last week.
An officer associated with the probe said, “Mofajjul was absconding since NIA took over the probe,” adding that negotiations had been on with Mofajjul’s family for his surrender for the last month. “He went to NIA office with his son Ansarul Sheikh and surrendered. For legal reasons he has been shown as arrested from Mokimnagar”.
An intelligence wing officer said, “When Mofajjul was absconding he used to keep changing his location. We suspect he was in touch with JMB militants”.