Thane: Dhaka blast suspect, who also blew up wife, held in Kalwa

A 40-year-old suspected terrorist, allegedly involved in a bomb blast in Bangladesh, has been arrested by the Thane crime branch.

While he was picked up on suspicion, investigation later revealed that nearly two years ago he also killed his wife by carrying out a blast in his own home.

The accused is in police custody till November 7. Identified as Bashirmulla Shaikh, the accused used to reside in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, and was arrested from Manisha Nagar in Kalwa yesterday.

Senior inspector, Thane Crime Branch, Nitin Thakre and assistant inspector, Thane Crime Branch, Shrishail Chiwadshetty received a tip-off that Shaikh, a Bangladeshi, was living here without passport and other documents.

Sources also told the officers that Shaikh was involved in the 2013 bomb blast that happened in front of the Dhaka hotel where President Pranab Mukherjee was staying during his visit; however, there is no confirmation on this yet.

Confessed to murder
"Shaikh was arrested on Friday and is in police custody till November 7. We are investigating further," said Thakre.

The accused has confessed to having blown up his wife Sultana by planting a bomb in his own house in Bangladesh.

"He claims that he committed the crime due to some family dispute. We suspect that he has committed many such bomb blasts," said Chiwadshetty.

In police net
The CID had registered a case against Shaikh in March 2016 for illegally staying in Mumbai without a passport. He was released on bail then and had been staying in Navi Mumbai. "He fled Bangladesh and came to Mumbai after his relative was arrested," said a Thane police officer.

A case has been registered at Kalwa police station under section 380 and 454 of the Indian Penal Code against him.