The day following the assault on the NIA team at Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district during an investigation related to a blast incident, the East Midnapore Police filed an FIR and pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
An FIR has been filed by the police against the NIA team and CRPF officials based on a complaint from a woman. She accused NIA officials of molestation, alleging that they forcibly entered their homes late at night by breaking the doors.
The case has been filed at Bhupatinagar Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 325, 34, 354, 354(b), 427, 448, and 509.
Simultaneously, the NIA has initiated a case against the assailants at the Bhupatinagar police station.
SP Soumyadeep Bhattacharya said, “An NIA team had reached Bhupatinagar police station and we (police) fully cooperated with them. Earlier, another NIA team had come and there were reports of some arguments with them. During the incident, a vehicle was vandalised before the police arrived and one person was also reported to be injured. A FIR has been registered and an investigation is going on. Efforts for arrest are underway.”
Earlier on Saturday, certain NIA officers were reportedly harassed in Purba Medinipur district while conducting an investigation related to a blast case.
As per sources within the specialized anti-terror investigation agency, an NIA team visiting Purba Medinipur as part of an ongoing inquiry into the blast case was targeted in an attack on Saturday.
According to sources, the vehicle transporting the NIA officers was reportedly damaged while they were apprehending a person in connection with the case.
A video circulating on social media purportedly depicted locals gathering around a vehicle, attempting to prevent the NIA team from taking the suspect with them.
Additionally, sources stated that the villagers also hurled stones at the vehicle.
It’s worth noting that a comparable assault occurred on an ED team in Sandeshkhali, located in the North 24 Parganas district of the state, on Jan 5.
During a raid at the residence of expelled and incarcerated TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and another ruling party member over an alleged food scam, a group of protesters surrounded, harassed, and assaulted a team of ED officers in Sandeshkhali.