Mamata Banerjee slams NIA action over 2022 Bhupatinagar bombing case

During the operation in Bhupatinagar, the NIA team was attacked by a hostile crowd and one of its members sustained injuries. The accused, Balai Charan Maity and Manobrata Jana, were held after thorough searches conducted at five different sites, including Jana's residence, media reports said.

Consequently, the NIA lodged a complaint at the local police station over the incident.

The crowd caused a ruckus in order to impede the NIA's progress and prevent officials from reaching the Bhupatinagar police station to complete the arrest formalities.

Slamming NIA, Mamata Banerjee questioned if the probe agency had taken local police’s permission. She justified the attack, comparing the investigators with strangers, who would be subjected to violence if they visited the place.

"Why did they raid at midnight? Did they have police permission? Locals reacted in the way they would have if any other stranger had visited the place at midnight. Why are they arresting people right before the elections? What does the BJP think, that they will arrest every booth agent? What right does NIA have? They are doing all these to support the BJP. We call upon the entire world to fight against this BJP's dirty politics," Banerjee was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The West Bengal Chief Minister accused the NIA of assaulting the locals rather that holding the villagers responsible for unleashing violence.

She then went on to accuse the NIA of acting as BJP’s stooge to help the party win the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"Will the women sit back if they are attacked?" she asked, the report said.

The incident is similar to another incident that occurred in Sandeshkhali in state's North 24 Paraganas district three months ago when a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) was attacked by 800-1000 people who gathered when the team went to search the house of TMC convener Sahajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas.