The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the July 7 Mahabodhi temple blasts has picked up a Gaya resident suspected of having ties with a terrorist outfit.

Sources said the NIA had been keeping a close watch on the suspect since the blasts in Bodhgaya, around 115 km south of Patna.

The suspect used to regularly call up some people in Pakistan and other foreign countries.

A notice was served last week, asking him to appear before the NIA office in Bodhgaya on the basis of his call details report. When he did not turn up for questioning, a police team led by an SP rank officer raided his native village in Banke Bazaar police station area of Gaya district and picked him up on Tuesday.

“He has been detained for interrogation. We are ascertaining his links with the July 7 serial blasts,” an investigating officer said. The agency is trying to nail local links that played an important role in the blasts. The officer, who did not wish to be named, said two Darbhanga residents summoned by the NIA’s Bodhgaya office last week gave vital clues.

The duo was quizzed for two days and subsequently released. “The youths from Manigacchi area of Darbhanga district have been asked to be present at the agency’s office whenever needed.”

In the past one and a half months, the agency has questioned over a 100 suspects from Gaya, Patna and Darbhanga districts without any breakthrough. But the team now hopes to get substantial clues.

“The investigation is proceeding in the right direction and results would come soon,” the NIA officer said.