Anti-terror agency officials attacked, their vehicle vandalized in Bengal while investigating a 2022 bomb blast case
On Saturday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials were attacked by villagers in the Bhupatinagar area of West Bengal’s East Medinipur district as they reached there to investigate the December 2022 explosion.
Taking swift action, NIA has lodged a police complaint concerning the attack.
The officials went there to investigate a 2022 bomb blast case, according to police reports.
A team of NIA officials earlier this morning arrested two persons in connection with the case and were on their way back to Kolkata when the vehicle came under attack, the police said.
NIA had earlier summoned local TMC leaders including Bhupatinagar resident Balai Maiti and Monobrata Jana for interrogation related to the December 2022 blast.
After the duo ignored the summons for interrogation, NIA reached Bhupatinagar early Saturday morning and detained them. While they were coming back, a group of local villagers stopped the vehicle and demanded the release of the duo.
As the NIA official refused, a group of people surrounded their vehicle and began pelting stones, leading to injuries among the officials, including one officer from the NIA, as confirmed by a senior police official. “Locals gheraoed the vehicle and pelted stones at it. The NIA has said one of its officers was also injured,” a senior police official said.
However, they managed to get out of the spot and reach the local police station. There they have started the process of registering an FIR in the matter.
Following the incident, a significant deployment of central police forces has been dispatched to Bhupatinagar, where the NIA team is currently stationed alongside the arrested people.
This is the second incident of attack on a Central agency team within a span of three months. On January 5, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) and their accompanying CAPF personnel were similarly attacked by a group of over 1,000 individuals while the team attempted a raid and search operation at the residence of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
- CM’s post in buzzing capital like Delhi not ceremonial, office holder has to be available 24×7: Delhi HC observes - April 29, 2024
- Amit Shah’s doctored video case: Delhi Police summons Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, other Congress leaders - April 29, 2024
- Smriti Irani files nomination from crucial Amethi seat; holds massive roadshow ahead of filing her nomination papers - April 29, 2024
