In her initial response to the assault on a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team at Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district during an investigation related to a blast case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Saturday that the elite anti-terror agency hadn’t informed the state government beforehand about their visit to the area. Sources within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) reported that the CM also raised questions regarding why the agency conducted the raid in the middle of the night.
Addressing the Bhupatinagar incident, Mamata questioned the timing of the raid, stating, “Why did they choose to conduct the raid at midnight? Did they obtain police permission? The locals reacted as expected when faced with unfamiliar visitors late at night. Why are they apprehending people just before the elections? What does the BJP aim to achieve… by having our booth agents detained? What authority does the NIA possess? These actions appear to be in favor of a specific political party ahead of the elections. We urge all conscientious individuals nationally and internationally to condemn BJP’s deceitful politics.”
In a counterattack against the ruling TMC in the state, veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad remarked, “Is this the first time such an incident has occurred in Bengal? Wasn’t the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team attacked previously? Didn’t the truth about Sandeshkhali emerge? The NIA team was conducting raids against suspected terrorists when they were attacked.”
Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Rahul Sinha strongly criticized CM Mamata, highlighting that the incident once again exposes the complete breakdown of law and order in Bengal. Sinha accused the chief minister of running a dictatorial regime under the guise of governance and administration, jeopardizing the state’s present and future.
“We demand swift identification and prosecution of those responsible for this incident. The culprits must face exemplary punishment,” added the BJP leader.
Earlier in the day, some NIA officers were reportedly harassed in Purba Medinipur district while investigating a blast case. According to sources within the elite anti-terror agency, an NIA team conducting an ongoing probe into the blast case faced an attack on Saturday in Puba Medinipur. Sources stated that the vehicle carrying NIA officers was allegedly vandalized during the process of apprehending a suspect related to the case.
A video of the purported incident circulated widely on social media, showing locals gathering around the vehicle, attempting to prevent the NIA team from taking the suspect. The villagers also reportedly hurled stones at the vehicle.
As previously reported, a team of ED officers was surrounded, harassed, and attacked by protesters in Sandeshkhali while raiding the residence of expelled and imprisoned TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and another ruling party member concerning an alleged food scam.