Trinamool Congress workers protested the arrest; spokesperson Aparesh Santra awaited details before commenting on the case
Kolkata
Police in East Midnapore district have arrested Trinamool Congress leader Subir Maity, who is under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the 2022 Arjun Nagar bomb blast case. The arrest was made late Friday night.
In December 2022, a powerful explosion in Naduabila village of Arjun Nagar panchayat killed three people, including a Trinamool leader. Following a Calcutta High Court order, the NIA has been investigating the case, during which several party leaders’ names surfaced, including that of Maity, a resident of Arjun Nagar.
According to police, Maity was caught during a raid by Bhupati Nagar police station officers, who recovered bomb-making ingredients. Authorities are still examining whether the seized items were meant for crude bombs or firecrackers. “Investigation is on to ascertain the purpose of the materials,” an officer said.
The arrest has triggered political tensions in the area. BJP MLA from Bhagabanpur, Rabindranath Maity, alleged that Trinamool is stockpiling bombs ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections to incite violence. “They want to indulge in violence during the election,” he claimed.
Trinamool Congress workers staged protests against the arrest, while the party’s Contai spokesperson Aparesh Santra said he had no details yet and would respond after learning more about the case.
The development has once again brought attention to the rising concerns of political violence in Bengal. With elections approaching, the recovery of explosive materials has raised fears of further clashes in the politically sensitive region.
