NIA team attacked in Bengal, Mamata & BJP in new war of words

Officer injured, vehicle damaged by crowd as agency arrests 2 men in 2022 blast case

4 min readCooch Behar, KolkataUpdated: Apr 7, 2024 08:27 AM IST

While addressing an election rally in Balurghat, Banerjee said, “It was the NIA that attacked and not the women. Gaddar (alluding to Suvendu Adhikari) knows he is losing." (Express photo)

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and the Opposition BJP were locked in a new blame game Saturday after a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was attacked by a crowd while arresting two men who it said were “key conspirators” in the Bhupatinagar blast case in which three persons were killed in December 2022.

In a statement, the NIA said one of its team members sustained a minor injury and its official vehicle was damaged as it arrested “two key conspirators amid stiff resistance from an unruly crowd” in Purba Medinipur district.

“The aggressive crowd tried to stop the NIA team and its security component from moving towards Bhupatinagar police station to complete the arrest formalities. NIA has lodged a complaint at the local police station in this regard. Manorama Jana, and the other arrested accused, identified as Balai Charan Maity, were found to have conspired to manufacture and explode crude bombs to spread terror,” the NIA said, adding that the accused will be produced before the Special NIA Court in Kolkata.

Also read | NIA team investigating 2022 blast attacked in West Bengal’s East Medinipur district, car vandalised

The attack rekindled memories of the January 5 incident in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas when officers of the Enforcement Directorate were attacked by a crowd while conducting a search at the home of local strongman and TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh. The ED team had gone there in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities in the state’s public distribution system. Sheikh was arrested after being on the run for 55 days.

And as with Sandeshkhali, the Purba Medinipur incident too sparked a war of wards between the BJP and TMC. At an election rally in Balurghat, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the BJP and said. “It was the NIA that attacked and not the women… At midnight, NIA officials are barging into the homes of people. What do you expect? Won’t women fight for their dignity? In 2022, there was a chocolate-bomb blast at Bhupatinagar and now the NIA has been sent… to create terror. The BJP wants to arrest all our booth presidents… They have arrested Arvind Kejriwal, Adivasi leader Hemant Soren to win the election. They have the CBI and NIA to create terror and they have the ED and Income Tax which extort money and give it to the BJP.”

“There should be a level-playing field in the elections. If you think you will grab the elections with muscle power, then you should know that India is the biggest democracy, and you will not be successful,” she said.

Later, speaking to media persons, Banerjee said, “Why did they (NIA) raid at midnight? Did they have police permission? Locals reacted in the way they would have if any stranger comes to the place at midnight. Why are they arresting people right before the elections?… We call upon the world to fight the BJP’s dirty politics.”

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The BJP hit back at the Chief Minister. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition, in a post on X, said it was “due to Mamata Banerjee’s repeated instigation” that even after the attack on ED officers in Sandeshkhali, the “TMC leaders could still dare to attack” NIA officers. He said Banerjee “spoke ill about the NIA” in Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar.

Governor C V Ananda Bose described the attack on NIA officers as a “very serious” issue.

He told mediapersons, “This is a very serious situation which has to be dealt with all the seriousness that it deserves. This kind of ‘goondaism’ should not be allowed. Muscle power should not replace legal power. This has to be dealt with an iron hand.”

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats. Experience & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal. Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness. Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on trending topics. Investigative Focus: Possesses a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories, demonstrating depth and skill in impactful journalism. Beat Versatility: Has honed her craft across diverse beats, including aviation and reporting on various incidents, ensuring well-rounded and comprehensive reportage. Career Start: Began her journalistic journey as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a news portal in Kolkata, providing a foundational understanding of media landscape and audience engagement. Education Advanced Education: Holds a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, equipping her with advanced media theory and skills. Undergraduate Education: Holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College. Multilingual Skill: Her fluency in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili enhances her reach and capability to connect with diverse sources and communities in the region, adding a layer of accessibility and authenticity to her reporting. Regional Roots: Originally from Bihar, she was brought up and educated in Kolkata (Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake), giving her a deep, personal understanding of the cultural and political nuances of her reporting region. Sweety Kumari's combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. ... Read More

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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