Bhubaneswar, July 8: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another suspect in connection with the Sundarpada explosion case in Bhubaneswar, intensifying its probe into the high-profile blast that occurred earlier this year. The arrest marks another significant development in the investigation, which is being conducted on multiple fronts.
The accused has been identified as Rohan Ranjan Rautray, a resident of the Patia area in Bhubaneswar. According to reports, he was apprehended by the NIA from Uttar Pradesh and has been brought into custody for further questioning regarding his alleged role in the case.
Earlier, an NIA team had visited the blast site at Azad Nagar in Sundarpada and carried out a detailed forensic examination. Investigators are examining the incident from several angles, including the circumstances leading to the explosion, possible criminal networks involved, interstate connections and any potential links to terrorist activities.
The explosion occurred on January 27 in the Azad Nagar area under the Airfield Police Station limits. The main accused, Sehenbaz Mallik alias Mafi, and his mother sustained critical injuries in the blast and later died while undergoing treatment.
After taking over the investigation from the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police, the NIA registered a fresh case and launched a comprehensive probe. During the investigation, the agency recovered RDX explosive material, raising serious concerns about the source and intended use of the explosives.
Investigators are now focusing on tracing the origin of the seized explosives, verifying Mafi’s alleged interstate connections and examining his links with previous criminal cases. So far, the NIA has questioned more than 10 persons, and officials indicated that further arrests and searches may be carried out as the investigation progresses.
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