STF sources also said that Tunda used to pay Rs 50, 000 per month as remuneration to Taher. He received separate funding for expenses to set up the organisation.

So far Taher has recruited nearly 30 people from Bangladesh bordering districts like North 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Murshidabad and Nadia, the STF source said.

“We have definite proof that he was not only involved in the blast in Guwahati but also had a plan to conduct series of blasts in North East,” the source added.

Taher was born in Katihar in Bihar but his family later shifted to North Dinajpur where he was brought up and in 1999 he sneaked into Bangladesh and then went to Pakistan. There he met LeT operative Abdul Karim Mollah and received training in explosive handling at Murid.

“There is an ample proof that this man was one of the key players in supplying and handling explosives that were used in the series of blasts that occurred in different parts of the country last year,” STF sources added. Two passports—- one of Bangladesh and the other of Pakistan — had been recovered from Taher.