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TMC, BJP trade blame after recent arrests of ‘terrorists’ in West Bengal

This comes after a suspected Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) militant was arrested from South 24 Parganas on Sunday in a joint search carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police.

TMC MLA Shaokat Mollah said the “BJP is basically trying tarnishing our image after they were defeated in all elections”. (File Photo)

After recent instances of suspected militants being arrested from West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress and the BJP have been engaged in a war of words, with the state’s ruling party holding the Centre responsible for “terrorists infiltrating” Bengal, and the BJP blaming the TMC for allegedly making the state a safe haven for such elements.

This comes after a suspected Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) militant was arrested from South 24 Parganas on Sunday in a joint search carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police. Before this, the Assam and West Bengal STF had arrested two suspected militants of the banned Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) from Murshidabad district.

Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim said, “If terrorists are infiltrating into Bengal, who is responsible for that? The Centre is responsible for that. What is the Union Home Minister and the BSF is doing? The Central government is responsible for border security. If terrorists are coming from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal, who is responsible for that? To do politics, they are opening borders and blaming us.”

TMC MLA Shaokat Mollah said the “BJP is basically trying tarnishing our image after they were defeated in all elections”.

However, Union minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumder on Wednesday said West Bengal had became a safe haven for “terrorists” and “jihadi elements” during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s tenure.

He said, “Due to the indifferent attitude of the Mamata Banerjee government, Islamist fundamentalists are setting up their bases in places like Murshidabad district of West Bengal, procuring genuine documents and indoctrinating youths… The CM is busy pursuing her appeasement policy and taking no action against Islamic fundamentalists.”

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also attacked the government, saying, “The Basanti highway and the road from Kamalgaji to Bhangar was captured by terrorists in this state. It became possible only due to the indulgence of the state administration.”

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More

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