Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Canning East, Shaukat Mollah, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Bhangar bomb blast case, bringing an end to days of speculation surrounding his whereabouts.
According to agency sources, Mollah was apprehended late Friday night from the Kamalgazi area in Kolkata following a targeted raid based on specific intelligence inputs. The arrest comes just a day after the NIA had officially declared him an absconder, intensifying surveillance and search operations across multiple locations.
Investigators claim that Mollah had been evading authorities and was allegedly planning to flee the country amid mounting pressure from the ongoing probe. Preliminary findings suggest that he may have been attempting to cross into Bangladesh, with reports indicating that he had been making inquiries about possible border routes. However, neither Mollah nor his legal counsel has issued any official statement regarding these allegations.
An NIA official confirmed the development, stating, “Mollah has been arrested as part of the investigation into the Bhangar bomb blast case. He will be produced before the court on Saturday, and further legal proceedings will follow.”
Meanwhile, Mollah’s family has presented a different version of events. His daughter told reporters that he had not been in hiding but had gone out for personal reasons. She claimed that he had voluntarily surrendered and that the family had been staying at a hotel near Chingrighata, not in Kamalgazi, where the arrest reportedly took place.
The arrest follows a series of raids conducted earlier this week. On Wednesday morning, NIA officials searched Mollah’s residence in Jibantala as part of the investigation into the pre-poll blast in South Bamunia, Bhangar. The house was found locked, prompting officials to expand their search to nearby areas and his party office.
Allegations had already surfaced against the two-time MLA for non-cooperation with the investigation and repeated failure to respond to summons for questioning. During the probe, his son was detained for several hours and later released, while investigators also questioned his wife and daughter.
After being unable to trace him during initial operations, the NIA declared Mollah an absconder and stepped up efforts to locate him. Officials believe he had left the area prior to the earlier search operations.
Acting on fresh intelligence, a special NIA team tracked him to a suspected hideout in Kamalgazi, where he was eventually arrested after a period of surveillance.
Investigators believe that Mollah’s arrest could prove crucial in uncovering key details related to the explosives network and potential political links behind the blast. He will be produced before a special court, where the agency will seek custody for further interrogation to identify other individuals involved and establish the larger conspiracy.
The Bhangar blast case, which occurred ahead of elections, has remained a significant point of concern, with investigators probing deeper into the alleged nexus behind the incident.
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