The National Investigation Agency arrested former Trinamool Congress MLA Shaukat Mulla on Friday night as the key conspirator in the Bhangar bomb blast case [1], [2].
The arrest of a former lawmaker suggests high-level involvement in a violent incident that occurred during a sensitive pre-poll period in West Bengal. This development marks a significant escalation in the federal investigation into the attack.
Authorities identified Mulla, also reported as Saokat Molla in some records [2], [3], as the primary architect of the plot. The NIA said he directed the construction of the bomb and the subsequent efforts to cover up the crime [2], [3].
The incident took place on March 19 in Dakshin Mamudpur village, located in the South 24 Parganas district [1], [4]. The explosion killed one person and injured three others [1].
Federal agents apprehended Mulla at an undisclosed location in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas [4]. Reports indicate the arrest occurred while the suspect was on his way to the NIA office in New Town, Kolkata [4].
This operation follows an extensive probe into the March 19 blast. The NIA's focus on Mulla as the key conspirator indicates that investigators believe the attack was not an isolated act of violence but a coordinated effort [2], [3].
“The National Investigation Agency arrested former Trinamool Congress MLA Shaukat Mulla”
The arrest of a former member of the legislative assembly by a federal agency underscores the political volatility of the Bhangar region. By naming a former TMC official as the key conspirator, the NIA is signaling that the investigation into pre-poll violence in West Bengal is targeting individuals with significant political influence rather than just low-level operatives.
