Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been deployed across seven districts voting in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections to conduct independent searches for explosives, officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI) said.
The move comes amid heightened security concerns following recent bomb seizure cases in the state.
Security push after bomb seizure case
The deployment follows an ongoing investigation launched by the NIA on April 26 into a bomb recovery in the Uttar Kashipur area of South 24 Parganas, initiated on the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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According to officials, NIA teams have been stationed in multiple sensitive zones, including Bhangar, Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia, Baruipur, Kasba, Diamond Harbour, Bishnupur and areas under the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate.
A senior ECI official said the teams have been tasked with conducting independent checks and can register fresh cases if required. There was no immediate response from the NIA’s public relations office on the deployment.
Political reactions over NIA role
The NIA’s involvement in the election process has drawn mixed reactions from political parties.
As reported by Hindustan Times, Sushmita Dev of the Trinamool Congress questioned the decision, stating that the agency typically handles national security and terrorism-related cases. “The ECI should explain what national security threat exists in West Bengal that requires the NIA,” she said.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the move. Party spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said the deployment was necessary to curb long-standing issues of election-related violence in the state.
Background of NIA involvement
The agency’s role in the ongoing election cycle expanded after a separate incident on April 1, when judicial officers overseeing voter roll revisions were allegedly held hostage in Malda. Following directions from the Supreme Court, the NIA initiated a probe and later arrested the alleged mastermind.
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Earlier this week, the ECI also directed the West Bengal Police to carry out a statewide crackdown on illegal explosives and bomb-making units, stating that such cases would be handed over to the NIA.
With over 32 million voters participating in this phase, authorities are aiming to ensure a secure polling process amid a history of electoral tensions in the state.
