NIA team attacked in West Bengal; Mamata asks why investigating agencies are ‘suddenly active before the election’

April 06, 2024 10:44 am | Updated 12:24 pm IST - Kolkata

A team of officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were attacked in West Bengal’s Bhupatinagar area in the morning on April 6.

Locals gathered around the vehicle carrying the NIA officials, held protests, and allegedly threw stones at the vehicle. Two NIA officials sustained injuries in the incident.

The NIA had detained two persons and lodged a complaint at Bhupatinagar police station in connection with the incident.

VIDEO | A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was attacked at Bhupatinagar in West #Bengal's East #Midnapore district earlier today. More details are awaited.

(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/33STLQLPcP — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 6, 2024

The NIA team was visiting the area in connection with investigation in the Bhupatinagar blast case of December 2022. The explosion due to crude bombs on December 3, 2022, had claimed three lives.

The Purba Medinipur police administration said that a request from the NIA to provide support for the investigation was received on Saturday morning. Before the police could provide any assistance, the NIA team visited the area with central armed police personnel, the police said.

The NIA investigation into the blast at the house of a local Trinamool Congress leader has evoked strong political reactions from the State’s ruling dispensation over the past few days. The NIA had issued notices to eight persons to appear before the agency, but none of them turned up.

Raids were being carried out at midnight; police was not informed: Mamata

“What happens when people in a village see a stranger in the middle of the night? That is what happened [at Bhupatinagar]. Why are raids held at midnight? The police was not informed. Why are agencies suddenly active before the election? Why are these arrests made before the election? All this is being done to help the BJP in the polls,“ West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, reacting to the attack on the NIA team at Bhupatinagar.

The Trinamool Congress leadership had written to the Election Commission of India alleging that the NIA investigation ahead of Lok Sabha polls has a political bias. Trinamool Congress leaders have alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were in touch with NIA officials and held meetings in Kolkata.

Ms. Banerjee has been raising questions on the role of central investigation agencies during her public meetings over the past few days.

The attack on NIA comes almost three months after a team of officials of Enforcement Directorate were attacked at Sandeshkhali on January 5, by supporters of a local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Mr. Shahjahan remains in the custody of ED in connection with the attack.

All criminals in Bengal enjoy TMC’s protection: Amit Malviya

Reacting to the attack, BJP’ Amit Malviya who is also the State co-incharge for the party said that all criminals in West Bengal, from Shahjahan Sheikh to Anubroto Mondal, enjoy TMC’s protection.

In a post on X (formerly, Twitter) he lashed out at the Chief Minister saying that “West Bengal continues to remain lawless, as ever,” under Ms. Banerjee.