The building where the blast took place is located in Khagragarh area.
After three arrests and two raids over last week's blast in Burdwan, the West Bengal police feel it could involve a terror network - giving teeth to opposition demands to involve the National Investigation agency or the Central Bureau of Investigation.
On Wednesday, the case, which had been filed under the Explosives Act, was also brought under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - a law that's applied in cases where the integrity and sovereignty of the country is threatened.
The new charge was brought in hours after the police raided two houses in Burdwan, making official the suspicion that the two men, who died in the October 2 blast at the house in Khagragarh, could have been terrorists. (
Burdwan Blast: Burqa Factory Front for Bomb-Making Plant?)
There had been other evidence - improvised explosive devices and material to make them, watch dials and detonators recovered from the house. Some printed material was also found, which had references to Al Qaeda, Indian Mujahideen and even the Chechen rebels.
On October 5, two women residents of the house were arrested. One of them was the wife of Shakil Ahmed, a man who died in the blast. Another's husband, Abdul Hasan, had been injured. A third - a man - was arrested later. Their questioning led to the raids in two houses -- one at Baburbag, the other at Badshahi Road - barely a kilometer from the blast site. (
Burdwan Blasts: Two Women Arrested, Bengal Becoming Terror Haven, says BJP)
The police were looking for a man called called Kausar, but he had had fled. Kauser, who was probably a Bangladeshi national, used to visit Shakil Ahmed. Police suspect he collected bombs from Shakil for delivery to unknown recipients. At the house, police found a driving license, four pistols and 63 bullets.
The six residents of the other house have gone missing as well.
Following the raids, the police added the UAPA to the case. The opposition, which had accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of involvement and alleged that the police destroyed evidence, has now stepped up its demands to call in the NIA. (
Burdwan Blast: 2 Women Arrested, Trinamool Denies Links)
"The incident is linked to Bangladesh and who knows which other countries. That's why it should be probed by the CBI or NIA," said BJP leader Rahul Sinha. The CPM's SK Mishra echoed it, saying, "If they (state police and CID) are not afraid they will be caught red-handed for hiding something, they should hand it over to NIA."