Bihar Temple Blast: Charges pressed against 3 militants

India's National Investigation Agency filed a charge sheet in a court on Thursday against three suspected militants in connection with bomb attacks at a Bihar Buddhist temple in January.

The act was done in order to show solidarity with Rohingyas, the charge sheet said.

The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Patna, capital city of Bihar, in connection with the recovery and explosion of improvised explosive devices (IED) at Bodhgaya temple complex.

The IEDs were planted when Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was visiting the temple on January 19, the NIA said.

The charge sheet was filed under the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act against Paigambar Sheikh alias Abdul Aziz, Ahmad Ali alias Kalu and Nur Alam Momin.

They are residents of Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

NIA said its probe revealed the involvement of Jahidul Islam alias Kausar of Bangladesh's Jamalpur, Mustafizur Rahman alias Shaheen of West Bengal's Birbhum, Adil Sheikh alias Dilwar Hossain and Abdul Karim of West Bengal's Murshidabad and Arif Hussain alias Anas of Assam's Barpeta.

Four of them were arrested in August. Only Arif Hussain remains absconding.

Jahidul Islam is a member of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Mustafizur Rahman is his close confidante.

Paigambar Sheikh, Ahmad Ali, Nur Alam, Adil Sheikh alias Dilwar Hossain, Abdul Karim and Arif Hussain are members of a militant outfit, it said.

"Jahidul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman entered into a conspiracy with their other associates to carry out terror incidents in India by way of planting IEDs and carrying out explosions at symbols of Buddhist faith in order to show solidarity with the Rohingya Muslims fighting with Myanmar government...," according to NIA.

The accused had taken shelter in Bihar, carried out reconnaissance of the targets at Bodhgaya and procured explosives and other materials for the IEDs, it said.

"Jahidul Islam, with the help of other co-accused, made three IEDs and two hand grenades. The IEDs were planted by Adil Sheikh alias Dilwar Hossain and Arif Hussain on the premises of Bodhgaya on January 19, 2018 in order to cause loss to public life and property during the auspicious presence of his holiness the Dalai Lama and also during the visit of his Excellency the Governor of Bihar at Bodhgaya, thus committing a terrorist act."