Bengal blast: Two women remanded in custody

Two women arrested in connection with an Oct 2 blast in West Bengal were Sunday remanded to nine days in police custody, officials said.

The explosion, being probed by investigating agencies, took place at a house in Burdwan district's Khagragarh area, killing suspected militants Shakil Ahmed and Sovan Mandal and injuring Hasan Saheb.

Police Sunday arrested Amina Bibi and Rajera Bibi, wives of Ahmed and Saheb, and presented them before a court Burdwan which sent them to police custody.

"Following their interrogation, we have found sufficient evidence to suggest they are a part of the conspiracy," Assistant Superintendent of Police (Burdwan) Tarun Halder told IANS.

The Special Task Force, the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Criminal Investigation Department are looking into the possible involvement of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami.

The suspected militants had rented the house a few months back, police said, adding they have also questioned house owner Hasan Chowdhury.

Besides recovering a large number of watch dials, SIM cards and other tools required to make improvised explosive devices, police found some leaflets and papers from the spot.