The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the recent Patna serial blasts arrested a woman from Panjimogaru here after reportedly collecting evidence on her involvement in the case in the wee hours on Tuesday.
The woman has been identified as Aysha Banu, 36, of Manjotti in Panjimogaru region in Kavoor Police Station limits.
Aysha was born in a Hindu family and hails from Somwarpete in Madikeri district. According to an official source, Aysha was allegedly transferring money to banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen by opening fictitious bank accounts.
Initially known as Indira, she converted to Islam after marrying one Zuber of Panjimogaru nearly 18 years ago. The couple have three children; the oldest son has completed his SSLC and the youngest child is just four months old.
Zuber runs three beedi shops, including one in Bajpe. Both Aysha and Zuber were living in a rented house after their marriage, but purchased a new house on two cents of land at Manjotti two years ago. The neighbours were shell-shocked on hearing about Aysha reported involvement in the Patna blasts.
Aysha was last seen around 7 pm on Monday and the house remained locked since Tuesday morning. Some neighbours told Express that there was nothing suspicious about the couple. Only a manual weighing machine and a bundle of beedi leaves were found in the house, the police said.
But highly-placed sources revealed that details of over 35 bank passbooks, mobile phones and SIM cards were seized from Aysha. The couple’s actual role in the Patna blasts case would be known only after detailed investigation.