Mamata accuses NIA officials of barging into houses of villagers in Bhupatinagar

She defended the villagers’ response as self-defence, stating that NIA officials had entered several houses in the early hours over an incident involving the “bursting of crackers in 2022”.

PTI, Kolkata, Apr 6, 2024 :  A two-member TMC delegation is scheduled to visit Bhupatinagar in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district on April 7, where a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was attacked by a mob while arresting two key conspirators in a 2022 blast case.

Chief Minister and TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee has accused NIA officials of attacking villagers at Bhupatinagar, rather than the other way around.

She defended the villagers’ response as self-defence, stating that NIA officials had entered several houses in the early hours over an incident involving the “bursting of crackers in 2022”.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, along with senior state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, will visit the area on Sunday to interact with villagers, including the families of the arrested leaders, and then hold a rally at Bhagabanpur under Bhupatinagar. Ghosh said they will submit a report to the party later.

Senior state minister Bratya Basu criticised the incident, expressing concern that even bursting of chocolate bombs could lead to NIA visits in Bengal.

He highlighted the BJP’s excesses at the Centre, which he believes are testing the patience of the ruling party.

Basu mentioned that the party has requested a meeting with the full bench of the Election Commission in New Delhi to address the “use of central agencies by BJP.” In response, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya criticised the CM’s reaction, suggesting it shows little respect for NIA probes into blasts and raises concerns for the security of the state and country.

BJP MP and party’s candidate for Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat Dilip Ghosh remarked that the attack is part of a trend where the ruling party in the state engineers attacks on personnel of independent agencies to hinder investigations into leaders’ misdeeds.

“TMC had also instigated similar attacks on ED personnel in Sandeshkhali. In the long run, the perpetrators of such attack were arrested. Using a section of of villagers to incite people against federal agency personnel has become the hallmark of the party,” Ghosh said.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari urged the Election Commission to take action against certain police officials, alleging that Mamata Banerjee’s repeated instigations have emboldened attacks on NIA officers.

“The law and order structure of West Bengal has crumbled completely and since the control is right now with the Election Commission of India, it’s high time that @ECISVEEP should take proper action against the Officer in Charge of Bhupatinagar Police Station, SDPO Contai, SP of Purba Medinipur District and the DG of WB Police,” Adhikari posted on X.

He referenced previous incidents involving attacks on ED officials and criticised Banerjee’s remarks about the NIA at a political event in Mathabhanga. 

Balurghat (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused NIA officials of attacking villagers at Bhupatinagar in East Midnapore district and said not the other way round. 

Claiming that officials of the central probe agency had barged into several houses in the early hours over an incident of "bursting of crackers in 2022", she defended the villagers' response as self-defence. 

"The attack was not perpetrated by the women of Bhupatinagar, but rather by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team," she said at an election rally in South Dinajpur district's Balurghat. 

"Will the women sit back if they (NIA) go to their houses at night or they will try to defend themselves?" she asked. 

The NIA on Saturday arrested two key conspirators in a 2022 blast case amid an attack on the probe agency's team by a crowd in East Medinipore district, an official said. An NIA officer was injured and a vehicle belonging to the probe agency was damaged in the attack, a spokesperson of the federal investigating agency said. 

Later, the NIA team lodged a complaint at Bhupatinagar police station, an official said. Alleging a political motive in the NIA action and an attempt to intimidate TMC workers, she questioned why the agency was arresting people days before the polls in a case dating back to December 2022.

The Trinamool Congress chief accused the BJP government at the Centre of trying to use the central agencies to win the elections. "We want the Election Commission to work impartially, not turn into a BJP-run commission," she said. 

Questioning the transfer of state's police officers by the EC, she asked why ED, CBI and IT officers have not been changed. "NIA, CBI are brothers of BJP; the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and Income Tax are funding boxes of BJP," Banerjee said. 

Stating that while the state police looks after law and order throughout the year, central forces like the BSF, CRPF and CISF are brought in during the elections, she added. 

"If you (BJP) have the power, win the election by fighting in a democratic manner. Don't arrest my booth-level workers and election agents," she said at the rally. 

She condemned the arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren by central agencies over cases related to excise policy and an alleged land scam, respectively. "There must be a level-playing field in the elections," she said.