NIA raids 3 Bhubaneswar locations in Sundarpada bomb blast probe
Synopsis
Two people died and two others were severely burned when a bomb went off accidentally on a Bhubaneswar rooftop in January 2026. Six months later, the NIA is raiding three locations, tracing explosive supply chains and funding — signalling the agency believes a larger network was involved, not just the four people present that day.
Key Takeaways
The NIA searched three locations in Bhubaneswar on 14 July in the Sundarpada bomb blast case.
A 26-year-old man from Patia, Bhubaneswar was arrested from a hideout in Uttar Pradesh days before the raids.
Digital devices and incriminating materials were seized and sent for forensic examination .
The blast on 27 January 2026 at Azad Nagar Colony, Sundarpada killed Sehnawaz Malik (died 4 February ) and his mother Lizatun Bibi (died 10 February ).
The NIA is probing the source of explosives and the funding trail behind their procurement.
The case was transferred from Airfield Police Station to the NIA in April 2026 .
Multiple teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday, 14 July conducted coordinated searches at three locations in and around Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in connection with the Sundarpada bomb blast that killed two people in January 2026. The anti-terror agency confirmed the operation through an official statement, describing it as part of a widening investigation into the origin and intended use of the improvised explosive device.
Why the Searches Were Conducted
According to the NIA, the targeted premises were identified through detailed forensic and intelligence analysis of evidence gathered from one accused arrested earlier in the case. The agency has reportedly detained a 26-year-old man from the Patia area of Bhubaneswar, who was apprehended from a hideout in Uttar Pradesh a few days prior to Tuesday's raids.
The searches were aimed at tracing the source of explosive materials and other components used in fabricating the bomb, as well as establishing the funding trail behind the procurement of those materials — a line of inquiry that suggests investigators suspect organised support rather than a lone-actor incident.
What Was Seized
Tuesday's searches led to the recovery of several digital devices and other incriminating materials, all of which have been dispatched for forensic examination. The NIA said the seized items would assist in tracing additional suspects and establishing the network behind the blast.
What Happened on 27 January 2026
The case originates from an accidental explosion on the rooftop of a four-storeyed building in Azad Nagar Colony, Sundarpada, on 27 January 2026, when a bomb being improvised by four individuals detonated prematurely. All four sustained severe burn injuries.
Sehnawaz Malik, one of the four present, died of his burn injuries on 4 February 2026. His mother, Lizatun Bibi, succumbed to her injuries on 10 February 2026. The two others present — Truptimayee Mahal, Malik's alleged fiancée, and friend Amiya Mallick — survived but sustained severe burns.
How the NIA Took Over the Case
The case was initially registered by the Airfield Police Station under the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District. Given the nature of the explosive activity, the NIA assumed jurisdiction in April 2026. This is consistent with the agency's mandate to investigate terror-linked or organised explosive conspiracies, particularly where the intended target or network remains unidentified.
Notably, the fact that a bomb was being 'improvised' — rather than simply stored — points to active preparation, raising questions about the intended deployment that investigators are still working to answer. The NIA has said it is continuing to trace others involved in the crime.
Point of View
Combined with searches targeting procurement networks, points to a conspiracy frame that could implicate people well beyond Bhubaneswar. What remains unanswered — and what the forensic haul from Tuesday's raids may begin to clarify — is who the bomb was intended for. Until that question is answered, the full scale of the threat this case represents cannot be assessed.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sundarpada bomb blast case?
The Sundarpada bomb blast refers to an accidental explosion on 27 January 2026 on the rooftop of a four-storeyed building in Azad Nagar Colony, Sundarpada, Bhubaneswar, where four individuals were improvising a bomb. Two of them — Sehnawaz Malik and his mother Lizatun Bibi — later died of burn injuries; the other two survived with severe burns.
Why did the NIA search locations in Bhubaneswar on 14 July?
The NIA conducted the searches to trace the source of explosive materials used in the bomb, establish the funding trail behind their procurement, and identify others involved in the conspiracy. The targeted premises were identified through analysis of evidence gathered from an accused arrested earlier in the case.
Who has been arrested in the Sundarpada bomb blast case so far?
According to reports, the NIA arrested a 26-year-old man from the Patia area of Bhubaneswar from a hideout in Uttar Pradesh a few days before the 14 July raids. The agency has indicated it is continuing to trace additional suspects.
When did the NIA take over the Sundarpada blast case?
The case was initially registered by the Airfield Police Station under the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District. The NIA assumed jurisdiction in April 2026, given the organised and terror-linked nature of the explosive activity.
What was seized during the NIA searches on 14 July?
The NIA seized several digital devices and other incriminating materials during the searches. All seized items have been sent for forensic examination to assist in identifying the wider network behind the blast.
