The West Bengal police lodged an FIR, claiming that NIA officials engaged in misconduct during their raid related to the 2002 bomb blast case, including allegations of molestation.
The West Bengal Police has initiated legal action
against officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), accusing them of
molestation and trespassing during a raid in East Medinipur district linked to
the 2002 bomb blast case.
This action has intensified political tensions
between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party
in the state.
The FIR, filed by the West Bengal Police the day
after NIA officials were attacked by a mob during the raid, was based on a
complaint lodged by a woman who alleged assault and outrage of modesty by the
officials. Multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 325, 34, 354,
354(b), 427, 448, and 509, have been invoked in the case.
The incident occurred as NIA officials attempted
to arrest TMC members Manobrata Jana and Bailicharan Maity in connection with
the 2022 Bhupatinagar blast, which resulted in three fatalities. Despite the
allegations, no arrests have been made in connection with the attack on the NIA
officers.
The matter remains under investigation. In
response to accusations from TMC leaders, NIA asserted that its actions were
lawful and mandated by its ongoing investigation into the bomb fabrication
incident that caused the fatal explosion.