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Followed all procedures during blast case raid: NIA after Bengal Police FIR

Earlier, a case was registered against the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team after Saturday’s raid in West Bengal’s East Medinipur district.

Statesman News Service | New Delhi | April 7, 2024 10:18 pm

Followed all procedures during blast case raid: NIA after Bengal Police FIR

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Hours after a case was registered against the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team that conducted Saturday’s raid in West Bengal’s East Medinipur district, the anti-terror probe agency has come out with a statement, saying its action was bonafide and that it followed all lawful procedures while arrests were made.

In a statement shared by news agency ANI, the probe agency said that its “actions were bonafide, lawful and legally mandated, as part of its ongoing investigation into the heinous crime related to the fabrication of crude bombs, leading to an explosion that killed three persons in Naruabila village, PS Bhoopatinagar, district Purba Medinipur in West Bengal.”

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The agency said that its team came under a violent attack by an unruly mob when they went to conduct searches in Naruabila village which falls under Bhoopatinagar police station area.

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The attack was completely unprovoked and uncalled for, and an attempt to obstruct the NIA from carrying out its lawful duties, the agency said.

The NIA also pointed out that the searches were conducted at five locations in the presence of independent witnesses, and under the security cover provided by CRPF, which included lady constables.

The arrests, it added, were made after following all lawful procedures.

The statement came hours after a case was registered against the NIA team and CRPF officials following a complaint lodged a woman.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that the NIA team and CRPF officials assaulted her and her husband. She also accused them of outraging her modesty.

Following her complaint, a case was registered at Bhupatinagar Police Station under IPC Sections 325, 34, 354, 354(b), 427, 448, 509.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also questioned the NIA raids that were conducted at midnight and alleged that the agency was helping the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

“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,” she said.

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The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.