Mastermind in Ara court blast arrested in Delhi

According to the police, Sharma faced several cases of murder, blasts and those under the Arms Act in Bihar. He learnt making IEDs from a Maoist while in prison.

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“He was on the run, shuttling between states like Odisha, Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab and UP. He kept away from Bihar. He began sporting a stubble and wore a skull cap to mislead the police. We received information that he was going to meet a contact in Delhi when we formed a team and apprehended him. We are sharing information about his arrest with Bihar Police,” DCP (Special Cell) Rajeev Ranjan said.

On January 23, a woman talking on cellphone approached the prisoner van carrying Sharma and his co-accused Akhilesh Upadhyaya. When a policeman tried stopping her from coming too close to the van, a bomb went off, killing him and the woman. In the chaos, Sharma and Upadhyaya fled from the court premises. Upadhyaya was apprehended in March this year.

The woman, who allegedly blew herself up, was identified as Nageena Devi, a resident of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh who had come down to Ara on January 21. She was in a relationship with Sharma and was known to him, police said. She allegedly blew the bomb on his directions, according to police.