Among those dead in Barasat factory blast, son of 2021 Nimtita station attack accused arrested by NIA

An official of NIA at Barasat blast site on Monday. (Express)

“One of the deceased has been identified as Rony Sheikh. He is the son of Isha Khan alias Isha Sheikh, a resident of Suti in Murshidabad. Isha Sheikh was arrested by the NIA in connection with the Nimtita attack and is currently in jail,” a senior police officer involved in the probe said.

Sources in the NIA said Isha Sheikh has been accused of supplying explosives to the main accused of the Nimtita blast, Sahidul Islam.

In February 2021, crude bombs were hurled at a convoy at Jakir Hussain, then a minister in the TMC, while he was on his way to Nimtita railway station in Jangipur city of Murshidabad district. Hussain, who is now a TMC MLA, had suffered serious injuries in his legs.

A police officer said at least seven of those killed in Sunday’s blast at a house in Barasat hailed from Murshidabad and were brought here to work as labourers. “Some of the deceased have been identified as Rony Sheikh, Rafiqul Sheikh, Sujan Sheikh, all from Murshidabad. All the three belong to the same family and are related to Isha Sheikh,” a senior officer said.

Meanwhile, an NIA officer also visited the blast site in Barasat on Monday.

Earlier in the day, BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed that bombs were being manufactured at the Barasat house and were supplied to Malda and Murshidabad districts.

“In fact, in the incident where TMC MLA Jakir Hussain was attacked, the materials and explosives were supplied from here (Barasat),” Adhikari claimed.

Reacting to the BJP leader’s claims, the ruling TMC demanded that the NIA should question Adhikari. “Suvendu Adhikari so confidently said that bombs were supplied from here to attack Jakir Hussain. The incident (Nimtita station attack) is being probed by the NIA. I will suggest the central probe agency immediately summon Adhikari and question him. He might share important inputs,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.