• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Sun, 07 Apr 2024 08:00 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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NIA Team Attacked: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday issued a statement, maintaining that the raids and arrests carried out by its team in Bhupatinagar of West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Saturday were "bonafide, lawful and legally mandated" as part of its ongoing probe into a 2022 blast that claimed the lives of three people in the area. The NIA team that had reached Bhupatinagar to carry out the raids was allegedly attacked by an unruly mob. According to the agency, one of its officers was injured and a vehicle was damaged in the alleged attack.

"The attack was completely unprovoked and uncalled for, and an attempt to obstruct NIA from carrying out its lawful duties," the central probe agency said in a press release. The agency's statement followed allegations by West Bengal's ruling TMC that the raids were being carried out at the behest of the BJP as a means of political coercion ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Notably, two TMC leaders -- Balai Charan Maity and Monobrata Jana -- were arrested by the NIA as a result of the raids.

NIA Team Attacked: Top Developments

• While addressing an election rally in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the TMC, saying, "Trinamool Congress is organising attacks on the central agency officials with an aim to protect the extortionists against whom the probe is being conducted."

• The wife of one of the arrested TMC leaders has filed an FIR against NIA officials for allegedly trying to outrage her modesty, a police official cited by news agency PTI said on Sunday.

• Earlier in the day, TMC MP and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee posted on X, "Experience the unfolding alliance between the [NIA] and [Bengal BJP], orchestrating conspiracies against Trinamool leaders and the Model Code of Conduct."

"While this collusion persists, the ECI stands by, conspicuously silent, neglecting its duty to ensure fair play," the post read further.

• The post followed a press conference by the TMC wherein West Bengal's Minister of State in-charge of Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, claimed that an SP-rank NIA officer met BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari on March 26. During the meeting, Tiwari handed over a list to the NIA officer with names of TMC leaders to be arrested by the agency from different parts of the state, the TMC alleged.

• Tiwari refuted the allegations, saying, "I give an open challenge to Trinamool Congress. If they can prove these allegations I will quit politics forever."

• In its statement, the NIA said that the "searches were conducted at five locations in the presence of independent witnesses, and under the security cover provided by CRPF, which included lady constables". The probe agency added, "The arrests were made after following all lawful procedures."

(With inputs from agencies)