NIA team comes under attack from supporters of TMC leader in West Bengal

In a rerun of the attack on a raiding team of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) at Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district, some officers of the elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) were attacked by supporters of a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader on Saturday (6th April).

The incident took place in Bhupatinagar in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. According to reports, the NIA team visited the residence of a local TMC leader to investigate a 2022 blast case.

However, the officials soon came under attack from the supporters of the accused politician, who threw bricks and stones and damaged the windshield of vehicles.

#WATCH | West Bengal: NIA officers had to face protesters in Bhupatinagar while they were carrying out an investigation in connection with the Bhupatinagar, East Medinipur blast case. People allegedly tried to stop the NIA team from taking the accused persons along with them.… pic.twitter.com/KKL33S4Plm

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2024

An NIA officer sustained injuries during the unprovoked attack. The central investigation agency had reportedly arrested two people in connection to the 2022 blast case. It has now filed a complaint with the local police over the attack by supporters of the local TMC leader.

In a video of the incident that was widely shared on social media, locals were purportedly seen gathering around a vehicle, trying to stop the NIA team from taking the suspect along with them. The villagers also pelted the vehicle with stones, sources added.

The case pertains to an explosion that took place in Bhupatinagar on 3rd December 2022 and killed 3 people in the process. The deceased included the local booth President of TMC, Rajkumar Manna, his brother Debkumar Manna, and a man named Biswajit Gayen.

Wb | A blast occurred at residence of TMC booth president Rajkumar Manna in Arjun Nagar area under Bhupati Nagar PS in Purba Medinipur limits last night. Injuries reported. Party's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to hold a public rally in Contai today. pic.twitter.com/1ynqX7G6S3

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2022

As was widely reported earlier, a team of ED officers were surrounded, heckled and attacked by protesters in Sandeshkhali while raiding the residence of expelled and jailed TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and another ruling party leader in connection with an alleged food scam.

Source: OpIndia