Bengal Police Lodges FIR Against NIA Personnel In Bhupatinagar Incident, Agency Denies Assault Charge — Updates

New Delhi: The West Bengal police filed an FIR against National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials following allegations of molestation in the Bhupatinagar incident, after the wife of an arrested TMC leader filed a complaint against them. In response, the NIA said that the attack on its team during the raid was entirely unprovoked. The NIA strongly denied any malicious intent and refuted accusations of political bias after the ruling TMC accused the agency of colluding with the BJP.

These developments unfold amidst heightened political tensions over the incident in Purba Medinipur district, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging at a rally in Jalpaiguri that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is orchestrating attacks on central investigative agencies to shield its allegedly corrupt leaders. ALSO READ| TMC Attacks Central Agencies When They Come To Investigate Corruption Cases: PM Modi In Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has accused central agencies of targeting her party leaders, while TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee alleged an unholy alliance between the NIA and the BJP, criticising the Election Commission for its silence on the matter.

The incident unfolded on Saturday during an NIA operation to arrest TMC members Manobrata Jana and Bailicharan Maity in connection with the 2022 Bhupatinagar blast, resulting in an injured NIA officer and damaged vehicle due to an alleged mob attack.

NIA Officers Accused Of Assaulting Wife Of Arrested TMC Leader

Moni Jana, wife of Manobrata Jana, filed a complaint with the Bhupatinagar police station, alleging misconduct by NIA officers during a raid on her residence, prompting the registration of an FIR by the police. ALSO READ | Bengal: Wife Of Arrested TMC Leader Alleges Assault By NIA Officers, FIR Registered

The investigation is ongoing into the allegations of assault by NIA officers, as stated by a police official. “IPC Section 354 (for assaulting any woman, with an intention to outrage her modesty) was attached to the complaint”, the police officer added.  

The police have not made any arrests yet in connection with the reported attack on NIA officers, who have lodged a complaint with the Bhupatinagar police station. The matter is being investigated, the police official said. An NIA spokesperson said, “the entire controversy was unfortunate and made it clear that the attack on its team was completely unprovoked”.

The agency made it clear on Sunday that its actions were bona fide, lawful and legally mandated, as part of its ongoing investigation into the heinous crime related to fabrication of crude bombs, leading to an explosion that killed three persons. The NIA firmly denied any malicious intent in its handling of the case. ALSO READ| ‘Unprovoked And Uncalled For’: NIA Refutes CM Mamata’s Claim On ‘Attack’ In Bengal’s Bhupatinagar

Additionally, the agency spokesperson highlighted a similar incident on January 5, when an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked by a mob in North 24 Parganas district’s Sandeshkhali during a search at the residence of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with alleged irregularities in the public distribution system.

TMC, BJP Spar Over Bhupatinagar Attack As NIA Denies Provocation Charge

On Saturday, Banerjee had blamed the NIA personnel for the incident. “They are carrying out raids without prior information and barging into houses. What would the women do if someone entered their house when everyone was asleep in the dead of night”, she said on Sunday at an election rally in Purulia district.  She alleged the central investigating agencies were asking TMC leaders to either join the BJP or face action, as per PTI.

Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that a senior BJP leader from Paschim Bardhaman district, previously associated with the TMC, met with an NIA SP on March 26 and submitted a list of TMC leaders to be targeted for arrest ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In response, the BJP refuted the claim, dismissing it as fabricated and asserting that the TMC is resorting to falsehoods and fictitious narratives to deflect from its own issues, including allegations of corruption and involvement in criminal activities.
The NIA reiterated that its team encountered a violent attack by a disorderly mob while conducting searches in Naruabila village on Saturday as part of its investigation.

Describing the attack as unprovoked and unwarranted, the agency said that, “it was an attempt to obstruct the NIA from executing its lawful duties. The searches were conducted at five locations in the presence of independent witnesses and under the security provided by the CRPF, which included women constables”.

“The arrests were carried out following all legal procedures”, added an NIA spokesperson. Additionally, the agency reiterated that an aggressive crowd assaulted NIA personnel while they were transporting arrested accused Manobrata Jana to the local police station for formalities. During the attack, one NIA official sustained injuries and an official vehicle was damaged, as reported by the spokesperson.

The NIA has lodged a complaint at the local police station seeking legal action against the assailants involved in the attack. The agency had previously stated that the individuals, despite repeated summons, failed to appear for questioning in the ongoing investigation.

Citing a special court’s order, the NIA defended its actions in the case. The blast, which occurred in December 2022, prompted the NIA to take over the investigation on June 6, 2023, following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.