Returning From Saudi Arabia, Terror Accused In 2006 Kozhikode Blasts Picked Up By NIA At Delhi’s IGI Airport

A suspect in the 2006 Kozhikode twin blasts cases was on Thursday (24 January) picked up from the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after landing there from Saudi Arabia, reports The Economic Times.

The 33-year old man, identified as Mohammed Ashar, is a resident of Thalassery in Kerala’s Kannur district. He was originally chargesheeted by the NIA in 2010 but could not been arrested since he had absconded to Saudi Arabia.

"The cases pertain to the twin improvised explosive device blasts that occurred at the KSRTC and Mofussil bus stands in Kozhikode (Calicut) city on March 3, 2006 causing injuries to two persons besides damage to property," an NIA spokesperson stated.

He mentioned how the NIA had assumed control of the investigation of the blast cases from the state police in 2009 and then chargesheeted eight individuals suspected of involvement the year after that, including Ashar. The accused persons are charged with violating provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, IPC and Explosive Substances Act.

The investigation revealed that Ashar, along with another absconder P P Yusuf, had been party to the criminal conspiracy plotted to conduct IED blasts in Kozhikode city in retaliation for bail being denied to certain Muslim persons in the 2003 Marad communal riots case.

The NIA asserts that Ashar had assisted the prime accused T Naseer in the preparation of the IEDs and had planted the bombs at Kozhikode’s bus stands.

Ashar is now to be taken before a special court in Delhi so that transit remand can be obtained for producing him before a special court in Ernakulam, Kerala.