Kolkata: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) encountered a violent attack in Bhupatinagar, East Midnapore, resulting in injuries to one team member and damage to the agency’s vehicle. The NIA team had apprehended two Trinamool Congress leaders, Balai Charan Maity and Monobrata Jana, linked to a blast that caused three fatalities in December 2022. Despite lodging a complaint with local law enforcement, a hostile crowd impeded the NIA team and its security personnel from reaching Bhupatinagar Police Station. The situation escalated as residents tried to obstruct the NIA team during extensive searches at various locations. The NIA stated, “An aggressive crowd attempted to stop the NIA team and its security detail from proceeding towards Bhupatinagar Police Station.”
Investigations revealed Maity and Jana’s involvement in a conspiracy to produce and detonate crude bombs to incite terror. Both individuals actively participated in the bomb-making scheme, leading to their arrest. During the altercation with the crowd, an NIA member sustained minor injuries, and the agency’s vehicle was damaged. The NIA mentioned, “The duo, Balai Charan Maity and Monobrata Jana, were apprehended following thorough searches at five locations, including Jana’s residence, where local residents tried to obstruct the NIA team.”
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested a comprehensive report from the district magistrate of East Midnapore concerning the attack on the NIA team. This incident marks the second assault on a central investigating agency in West Bengal in a brief period. The BJP responded to the attack on the NIA officials in West Bengal, alleging a “state-sponsored attack” orchestrated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to hinder the 2022 blast case probe. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked, “The attack on the NIA officials is Sandeshkhali 2.0 orchestrated by the state to put hurdles in the investigation into the bomb blast case.”
Poonawalla accused the ruling TMC of organizing the attack on the NIA officials in the Bhupatinagar area, labeling it as “direct evidence of the TMC’s Talibani mindset culture.” He claimed, “Political violence, violence against central probe agencies, corruption, protection to terror and radical elements have been clearly institutionalized under this Talibani mindset culture of Mamata Banerjee government.” The BJP’s strong reaction highlights the tense situation surrounding the NIA incident in West Bengal.