New Delhi, Oct. 30: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) would probe the serial blasts at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

The decision to handover the probe to the NIA was taken today after chief minister Nitish Kumar met Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde at North Block.

After the meting, Shinde told reporters: “The probe has been handed over to the NIA.”

Nitish said the state police would help the NIA in the investigation. Asked why the case had been handed over to the NIA, he said the state did not have the “database” which NIA has to probe terror cases.

Under the NIA Act, the agency can take over probes into terror cases falling under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act with the state’s approval. Usually state police forces carry out investigation for some time in the cases before handing them over to the NIA.

After discussing the serial blasts issue with Shinde, Nitish conceded there was a need to “strengthen anti-terror capabilities” as Bihar had not witnessed any such major incident.

“But we need the Centre's help. We need force and equipment. We have also decided to set up an anti-terror squad,” Nitish told reporters.

The chief minister did not admit to lapses on the part of the state police but did concede he sought help from Shinde on various fronts.

While Shinde has underplayed the blasts at Narendra Modi’s rally in Patna on Sunday, security officials have lambasted the state police for its failure to act against terror outfits.