Kolkata, India – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) faced a violent assault in Bhupatinagar, East Midnapore, resulting in injuries to one team member and damage to an agency vehicle. The incident occurred as the NIA team was returning after detaining two Trinamool Congress leaders accused of involvement in a blast that claimed three lives in December 2022. An aggressive crowd obstructed the NIA team and its security from reaching Bhupatinagar Police Station during extensive searches at multiple locations.
According to the NIA, the two arrested leaders, Balai Charan Maity and Monobrata Jana, had conspired to manufacture and detonate crude bombs to incite terror. The arrests were made following extensive searches at five locations, including the house of Jana, where local residents attempted to block the NIA team and security personnel. The NIA member sustained minor injuries during the altercation with the crowd.
In response to the attack, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested a detailed report from the district magistrate of East Midnapore. This incident marks the second assault on a central investigating agency in West Bengal within a short period, following a previous attack on ED and CAPF personnel in Sandeshkhali.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted to the attack on the NIA officials, describing it as a “state-sponsored attack” orchestrated to impede the investigation into the 2022 blast case. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of inciting violence to protect those involved in the incident and create obstacles in the probe.
Poonawalla further alleged that the attack on the NIA officials in Bhupatinagar was evidence of the ruling Trinamool Congress’s “Talibani mindset culture.” He criticized the government for political violence, corruption, protection of terror elements, and perpetuating a culture of violence against central probe agencies.
The situation remains tense in Bhupatinagar as authorities investigate the attack on the NIA team. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of central investigating agencies in West Bengal and the need for enhanced security measures during such operations. The NIA is expected to continue its probe into the blast case despite the challenges faced during the recent arrests.