In a tumultuous turn of events, a National Investigative Agency (NIA) team, conducting investigations into a 2022 blast case at a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader’s residence, faced a violent assault by villagers in Bhupatinagar, East Midnapore, West Bengal, earlier today.

The team, which had apprehended two local TMC leaders, Manobrata Jana and Balachandra Maity, earlier in the morning in connection with the bomb blast case, was en route to Kolkata when their vehicle was targeted by enraged locals. Stones were hurled at the NIA’s car, causing damage and injuring one officer, according to preliminary reports confirmed by a senior police official.

The NIA had summoned eight TMC leaders for questioning in relation to the blast that occurred on December 3, 2022, claiming three lives in Bhupatinagar. However, the leaders had evaded earlier summons and were instructed to appear before NIA officers at Kolkata’s New Town on March 28, which they had skipped.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh has accused the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the NIA’s actions. Conversely, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari condemned the attack on the NIA officials, denouncing the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee echoed Adhikari’s sentiments, labeling the assault on the NIA team as ‘outrageous’ and emphasizing the necessity for upholding law and order in West Bengal.

The NIA has lodged a formal complaint regarding the attack, further complicating the already tense political climate in the state.