"We have to deal it with an iron hand...": West Bengal Governor condemns attack on NIA team

Governor Bose said that such attacks on the officers of the central agencies will have to be "dealt with with an iron hand" adding that democracy cannot afford to have such things happen in the future.

"I am getting the version of the NIA and then the report of the government, and then only as governor will I be able to say anything about it for certain. What is reported is ghastly shocking. It should never have happened. A democracy cannot afford to have such things happen in the future. The law has to take its course. The tendency of goons and anti-social elements to bully law enforcement agencies does not bring credit to anybody down the line. We should deal with it with an iron hand," Governor CV Ananda Bose told ANI.

In a rerun of the attack on a raiding team of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) at Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district, some officers of the elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) were allegedly heckled in Purba Medinipur district on Saturday while carrying out a probe in connection with a blast case.

According to sources in the elite anti-terror probe agency, an NIA team visiting Puba Medinipur in connection with an ongoing probe into the blast case came under attack on Saturday.

Sources said the vehicle in which the NIA officers were travelling was allegedly vandalised while a person was being picked up in connection with the case.

In a video of the alleged incident that was widely shared on social media, locals were purportedly seen gathering around a vehicle, trying to stop the NIA team from taking the suspect along with them.

In this regard, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed on Saturday that the elite anti-terror agency did not share any prior word with the state government on their visit to the area.

According to sources in the ruling TMC, the CM also questioned why the agency had to carry out this raid in the middle of the night.

Speaking on the Bhupatinagar incident, Mamata said, "Why did they have to carry out the raid at midnight? Did they have police permission? The locals reacted in the same manner as they would if any stranger were to come calling on them in the middle of the night. Why are they picking up and arresting people just before the elections? What does the BJP think--that they can get our booth agents arrested? What right does the NIA have?"

Earlier today, two accused arrested by the NIA in West Bengal's Bhupatinagar blast case were brought to Bankshall Court, Kolkata.

Also, Congress leader Ranjan Chowdhury condemned the attack on central agencies in West Bengal.

"We condemn the attack on ED, CBI, and NIA in Bengal by government-supported goons. Whether NIA and CBI are right or not, is a different issue, but the way these agencies are being misused, INDIA alliance has been agitating against it. I cannot justify these attacks on the central agencies. We have the judiciary, which can be approached in case of any grievance," he said. (ANI)