Mamata Banerjee Reacts As Anti-Terror Agency Team Attacked In Bengal

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was attacked in Bengal's East Medinipur district today during a raid in connection with a 2022 bomb blast case. An officer of the anti-terror agency has been injured in the attack that happened in the Bhupitaninagar area.

During the raid, a mob suddenly attacked the team and vandalized the agency's car, resulting in the vehicle's windscreen being broken. A video showed several men and women blocking a police vehicle and shouting at the police, asking them to go back. The women were seen sitting on the street in front of security personnel with bamboo sticks in their hands.

A team of NIA officials this morning arrested two people pertaining to the bomb blast case, including the main accused Monobroto Jana. The agency team was attacked when they were on their way back to Kolkata. An FIR has been registered with the local police regarding the incident. The case has been lodged against Monobroto Jana, his family members and other unidentified persons.

An NIA source said that the local police station was informed beforehand about the raid, and yet proper security arrangements were not put in place. On the other hand, police sources said that the NIA team went to Bhupitaninagar at 5.30 am - much earlier than they were supposed to - and then called for reinforcements. The situation is under control now and the police have launched an investigation into the attack.

The Bhupatinagar blast took place in December 2022 at a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader's home in the Naryabila village under the Bhupatinagar Police Station, killing three people. The NIA began probing the matter in June 2023.

The attack on the NIA team came just two months after an attack on a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Bengal's Sandeshkhali on January 5.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee alleged that the NIA was working for the BJP. "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 the 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," Ms Banerjee said.

The Bengal Chief Minister accused NIA personnel of assaulting residents in Bhupatinagar rather than the villagers initiating the attack. "Will the women sit back if they are attacked?" she asked. The TMC chief accused the BJP of trying to use the central agencies to win the elections.