The probe into the Bhangar crude bomb discovery incident has reportedly been taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The agency has registered a case in connection with the discovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating material in Bhangar in the South 24 Parganas district, poll-bound West Bengal. The development comes after the central government ordered an NIA investigation into the case on Saturday (25th April).
“Central govt is of the opinion that a Scheduled Offence under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, has been committed in the instant case, and the aforesaid case is related to the illegal storage and handling of explosives and crude bombs to endanger the lives and property of citizens, thereby intending to create fear and terror in the minds of the people,” the Centre’s order stated.
An NIA spokesperson confirmed the development followed a Union Home Ministry directive. The case in connection with the incident was originally registered at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata. The crude bombs were discovered by a police team from the North Kashipur police station during the raid of an abandoned house near a burial ground at Poilepara on Saturday.
The police team found “79 round-shaped objects tied with jute ropes, looking like crude bombs, and other incriminating materials.” On Sunday, the Election Commission of India had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to nab those involved in the illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the state. No arrests have been made in the case yet.
In a separate incident, the police arrested Wahidul Islam Molla in connection with a blast that occurred in West Bamunia village of Chaltaberia, Bhangar, during the assembling of crude bombs. Mollas was handed over to the police after residents spotted him in the Chak Moricha Tetultala Ghat area on Saturday. The NIA is probing the involvement of a wider network involved in such incidents.
The second phase of the West Bengal state assembly elections is set to be held on 29th April.
