Attack On NIA: TMC Team To Visit Bhupatinagar Today As Ruling Party, Oppn Spar Over Blast Probe — Top Points

LoP Suvendu Adhikari urged the Election Commission to take action against certain police officials, and alleged that CM Banerjee's “repeated instigations” have emboldened attacks on NIA officers.

Village women attack an NIA team at Bhupatinagar nagar in East Midnapore district. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: A two-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is slated to visit Bhupatinagar in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on April 7, where a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was allegedly attacked while arresting two key conspirators linked to a blast incident in 2022.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee denounced the probe team, terming the villagers' actions as "self-defence." She accused the NIA team of forcibly entering several residences in the early hours over a purported incident involving firecrackers in 2022.

Here Are The Key Developments:

• The attack on the NIA team sparked a war of words between the ruling TMC and Opposition. Governor CV Ananda Bose stressed the gravity of the situation, urging a comprehensive “factual report” from the state government.
• Meanwhile, the Opposition BJP labelled the incident a "state-sponsored" attack and accused CM Banerjee of fomenting violence.
• According to NIA, the arrests of Balai Charan Maity and Manobrata Jana marked a significant breakthrough in the Bhupatinagar blast case, which claimed three lives on December 3, 2022. The confrontation occurred at Jana's residence, with locals allegedly obstructing the NIA team's progress to the Bhupatinagar police station. Despite facing resistance, the NIA managed to complete the necessary procedures and lodge a complaint.
• Expressing concern over the situation, Governor Bose emphasised the importance of upholding legal procedures and condemned any form of lawlessness.
• The BJP condemned the incident as part of a pattern of attacks on investigating agencies to impede probes into TMC leaders' alleged wrongdoing. Earlier in January, Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in Sandeshkhali was attacked during a search at the residence of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh.
• "The attack was not perpetrated by the women of Bhupatinagar, but rather by the NIA team. Will the women sit back if they (NIA) go to their houses at night? They will try to defend themselves," CM Banerjee said.
• "TMC had also instigated similar attacks on ED personnel in Sandeshkhali. In the long run, the perpetrators of such attacks were arrested. Using a section of villagers to incite people against central agency personnel has become the hallmark of the party. This is a state-sponsored attack," PTI quoted BJP leader Dilip Ghosh as saying.
• State minister Bratya Basu criticised the incident, claiming even bursting of chocolate bombs can now lead to NIA visits in Bengal.
• Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari urged the Election Commission to take action against certain police officials, and alleged that CM Banerjee's “repeated instigations” have emboldened attacks on NIA officers.
• As tensions escalate, TMC leaders plan to visit the affected area to engage with villagers and assess the situation.