Barpeta: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has called five persons, including the headman of Chatala village in Barpeta district, to its Guwahati office to find clues in their probe into the Burdwan blast case and jihadi activities in the district.
The NIA called Gaon Burha (village headman) Rashid Ali Ahmed, Jahidul Islam, Batasi Begum, Saiful Islam and Saibar Ali, according to sources in the investigating agency.
A NIA team led by Superintendent of Police Debojit Hazarika during their search in the village yesterday had directed the five to present themselves at the NIA office in Guwahati as they had attended a prayer meeting in a house in the village which was close to the one of Sahanur Alam, one of the main accused in the Burdwan blast case, they said.
Batasi Begum is a close friend of Sahanur's arrested wife Sujana Begum, they said adding, Rashid Ali Ahmed was called as many youths were missing from his Chatala village.
In continuation of their search operation at Chatala village, the NIA searched Sahanur's house yesterday for the third time, quizzed his father and brother about the accused.
Alam is absconding and the NIA has recently declared a reward of Rs five lakh for anyone giving information leading to his arrest.
Alam's wife Sujana Begam was arrested in Guwahati on November 7 from the ISBT.
So far eight persons, including Sujana and Sahanur's brother Jakaria have been arrested in this connection.
