An associate of suspected Indian Mujahideen member, Imtiaz Ansari, who is accused of triggering Sunday's first blast at the Patna railway station, was today detained for questioning, while there was 'little chance' of survival of another suspect, Tarique, who was injured while trying to flee.
Tipped off by the Patna Police and the NIA, the associate Arshad Ahmad was picked by the local police from Alauli village in Bihar's East Champaran district, Superintendent of Police Vinay Kumar said.
Ahmad, who was listed on Ansari's phone, was detained yesterday and brought here by a Patna police team for questioning, Patna's Superintendent of Police, City, Jayant Kant said.
Ahmad ran a coaching institute in Ranchi from where Ansari too hails.
The suspect is in NIA custody and is being questioned, he said.
The total number of detentions together with Ahmad was three, while Ansari and Ainul alias Tarique have been arrested.
Arun Kumar Singh, Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, where Ansari was admitted, said that there was little chance of his survival as he had splinters in his brain from the blast, which could not be operated on.
Stating that he was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition on Sunday, Singh told PTI, "He has splinters, suspected hard iron pieces, in his brain and it is not possible to operate on him in this condition. Neurosurgeons did whatever possible. He is on life support system."
Asked about the chances of his survival, he said, "There is little chance.
