After an assault on a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) looking into the explosion in East Medinipur, West Bengal in 2022, the district police filed a First Information Report (FIR) accusing the NIA officers of molestation.
Filed at Bhupatinagar police station, the FIR charges the NIA personnel of trespassing and molestation on the basis of complaints from Manabroto Jana, a worker for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and family members of the arrested accused. There are claims that late-night searches by NIA officials resulted in the molestation of women.
The NIA has responded by lodging a complaint over the attack they experienced while conducting their inquiry. Following the NIA’s detention of two TMC employees connected to the explosion on December 3, 2022, a vehicle attack resulted in minor injuries for NIA officials.
Investigations into the explosion and the most recent altercations are ongoing as tensions rise. As of yet, no one has been taken into custody in relation to the FIR filed against the NIA team.
No arrests have been made yet in the case.
Blame Game Continues
The blame game between the BJP and TMC is continuing. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattarcharaya said, “Attacking a Central agency means attacking the Indian Constitution. Booking NIA officials under molestation charges for performing their duties is an indication of the collapse of all constitutional bodies. They have launched a war against the Indian Constitution.”
“The State government is provoking. The NIA attacked, but the police didn’t arrest anyone involved in that incident. Rather they have booked NIA officials. It is so unfortunate. What do you expect when the CM herself is sending a message that the central agency cannot act against them?” asked CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty.
Chakraborty was referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comments at an election rally in Balurghat. “It was the NIA that attacked and not the women… At midnight, NIA officials are barging into the homes of people. What do you expect? Won’t women fight for their dignity? In 2022, there was a chocolate bomb blast at Bhupatinagar and now the NIA has been sent… to create terror. The BJP wants to arrest all our booth presidents,” said Banerjee.
In contrast, the ruling party has accused the BJP of instigating a targeted campaign against its members and supporters. TMC leader Joy Prakash Majumdar asserted, “The incident took place in December 2022. Just because it is Bengal and a TMC-ruled government, after elections were announced all agencies were alerted. There is a witch hunt against TMC leaders. They (central agencies) are harassing people at midnight. The women have the right to file a complaint. Every person in Bengal understands the BJP’s strategy.”
In the midst of this controversy, Dr. Aariz Aftab, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, has called for a report regarding the Bhupatinagar incident, indicating an escalating concern over the situation.
