 "West Bengal: NIA team attacked in East Medinipur, officer injured and vehicle vandalised")
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday was attacked in West Bengal’s East Medinipur district as it conducted raids in the area.
The incident occurred in East Medinipur’s Bhupatinagar where the NIA had arrived to conduct raids in connection to a bomb blast case of 2022.
What happened?
As the central anti-terror agency team arrived in Bhupatinagar on Saturday morning, a mob suddenly hurled toward the team, launching violent attacks on NIA officials, leaving one of them injured.
#WATCH | West Bengal: NIA officers had to face protesters in Bhupatinagar while they were carrying out an investigation in connection with the Bhupatinagar, East Medinipur blast case. People allegedly tried to stop the NIA team from taking the accused persons along with them.… pic.twitter.com/KKL33S4Plm
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2024
The situation escalated quickly as viral videos on social media showed men and women blocking the police vehicle and breaking its windscreen.
Some women were even seen sitting on the road bearing bamboo sticks, restricting access to the NIA team into the village.
#WATCH | West Bengal: NIA officers had to face protesters in Bhupatinagar while they were carrying out an investigation in connection with the Bhupatinagar, East Medinipur blast case. People allegedly tried to stop the NIA team from taking the accused persons along with them.… pic.twitter.com/KKL33S4Plm
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2024
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Locals gheraoed the vehicle and pelted stones at it. The NIA has said one of its officers was also injured,” a senior police official told PTI.
According to India Today, the local police were informed about the NIA raids beforehand.
NIA arrests two
Meanwhile, the NIA arrested two individuals linked to the 2022 bomb blast, including the main accused Monobroto Jana on Friday.
The situation in Bhupatinagar is under control now and the police have launched an investigation into the attack.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also lodged a police complaint in this regard.
CM Mamata reacts
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Why did they raid at midnight? Did they have police permission? Locals reacted in the way they would have if any other stranger had visited the place at midnight.”
“Why are they arresting people right before the elections? What does the BJP think, that they will arrest every booth agent? What right does NIA have? They are doing all these to support the BJP. We call upon the entire world to fight against this BJP’s dirty politics,” she added
What is the 2022 bomb blast case about?
Three persons were killed when an explosion ripped apart a kutcha house in Bhupatinagar on December 3, 2022. The investigation was later handed over to the NIA.
Saturday’s incident also brought back memories of January 5, when ED officials were attacked in Sandeshkhali area in North 24 Parganas during a raid in connection with a ration scam.
With inputs from agencies
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