India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) yesterday arrested Rezaul Karim, an alleged operative of banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), in connection with the Burdwan blast case.

Karim, who had a bounty on his head, was arrested from the Indian state of Jharkhand where he had been hiding since the blast on October 2.

According to an NIA statement, he was an active member of the JMB and was "engaged in manufacturing and transporting bombs to different locations".

"Since the time of the incident, he had been absconding to evade arrest," it said.

After the blast, accused Abdul Hakim, who was injured in the explosion, had called up Karim for help and evacuation, said the statement.

The NIA and the West Bengal police recovered 39 bombs, which were similar to those exploded in Burdwan, from his house on Badshahi Road in the district.

The NIA is hopeful that Karim's interrogation may provide fresh leads and evidence for the investigation.

So far, 12 people have been arrested in this connection.