Rahmatullah alias Sheikh Sadiq alias Sajid, the prime suspect of Bardhaman Blast in West Bengal of India, has claimed himself a 'Bangladeshi' in the Kolkata court.
Quoting court, Times of India carried an online report on Monday.
Sajid, the October 2 Khagragarh blast mastermind, was sent to 12-day custody of the NIA by a Kolkata sessions' court on Sunday.
Chief Judge Md Mumtaz Khan passed the order saying he was allowing the NIA custody appeal till November 20 to unearth the truth due to the larger national security ramifications.
The judge, however, reminded NIA that all apex court guidelines regarding medical facilities and amenities should be adhered to.
The report says: “The judge asked Sadiq his name. Sadiq didn't speak a word on the charges slapped against him. After the conversation, the judge summed up what he told the court.”
"You want to say you are a Bangladeshi national who wants to stay in India. Is that it? Please step down," the judge said.
For NIA Sadiq's admission that he is a Bangladeshi also made him liable to be prosecuted under Section 14 of Foreigners Act, 1946.
The judge then passed his order. He read out in courtroom that he is remanding the accused to NIA custody till November 20.
On October 2, the blast in a house at Khagragarh in Bardhaman town had taken place in which one person Shakil Ahmed died on the spot and another person Sovan Mandal died in hospital. Both were suspected to have links with JMB.
Another person- Hasan Saheb – who was also injured in the blast, gave some information which led to the arrest of six people in Assam.
However, only two women including the wife of one of the dead man was useful in giving some sketchy information about the blast conspiracy.
The arrested accused identified Sajid and his wife Fatima as 'lead trainers' at Simulia Madrasa where people were being indoctrinated in jihad and kept in readiness for indulging in terror activities.
Sajid is alleged to have paid money of Rs8.75 lakh to another accused Kausar, another Bangladeshi national, for purchase of land for a madrasa in Burdwan.
His interrogation is expected to give some vital information about the plans of JMB in India as well as in Bangladesh besides the location of nearly 40 Improvised Explosive Devices that were shipped ahead of the October 2 blast.