India: NIA officials attacked during raid booked for ‘molestation’ by West Bengal police

Police in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal booked officials of the federal National Investigation Agency (NIA) under charges of molestation after they were attacked in East Medinipur on Saturday (Apr 6) during the raid and investigation of a 2022 blast.

NIA officers were charged under sections 354 (molestation) and 441 (trespassing) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Bhupatinagar police station of East Medinipur. The FIR was filed following complaints by family members of the arrested accused and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker Manabroto Jana. TMC is currently in power in West Bengal, led by the CM Mamata Banerjee.

As per the complaint, NIA officials molested women by breaking the doors of their houses late at night.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Earlier, the NIA also filed a case at Bhupatinagar police station in relation to the attack on them by locals. No one has been arrested in the case so far.

NIA refutes allegations

Following the accusations, the NIA team refuted claims and asserted that the attack was "unprovoked." The agency, in a statement on Sunday (Apr 8) said, “NIA made it clear that its actions were bona fide, lawful and legally mandated, as part of its ongoing investigation into the heinous crime related to the fabrication of crude bombs… NIA has reiterated that its team had come under violent attack by an unruly mob when they had gone to conduct searches in Naruabila village on Saturday in connection with its probe in said case.”

Its an attack on the Indian Constitution, says BJP

The NIA team was attacked after they arrested two TMC workers in connection with the December 3, 2022 blast which killed three people. Balai Maiti and Manobrata Jana were picked up by the federal agency for investigation. However, their vehicles were soon attacked, resulting in minor injuries to at least two NIA officers.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the West Bengal government for the attack, calling it an attack on the Indian Constitution.

“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,” said BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya.

Opposition party CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also criticised the Mamata administration for filing cases against NIA officials.

“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,” said Chakraborty.

Reaction by West Bengal CM

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the NIA's actions and alleged that the central agencies are biased towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"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," questioned Banerjee.

(With inputs from agencies)