Kolkata, 16 August (H.S.) — In a major setback for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), party leader Subir Maity was arrested late Friday night in connection with the 2022 Arjun Nagar bomb blast in East Midnapore district, which left three people dead. The case, under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has long been at the center of political controversy in West Bengal.

The powerful explosion occurred in December 2022 at Nadubila village under the Arjun Nagar gram panchayat in the Bhagwanpur assembly segment. Among the deceased was a local TMC functionary, which immediately fueled allegations of the party’s involvement. The Calcutta High Court subsequently handed over the probe to the NIA, which named several local leaders, including Maity, in its list of suspects.

Acting on a tip-off, Bhupatinagar police conducted a raid on Friday night, seizing bomb-making materials and arresting Maity from the spot. According to sources, investigators believe the recovered items may have been part of a wider network of illegal explosive manufacturing in the region.

The case has triggered repeated political flashpoints, with opposition parties accusing TMC leaders of shielding those involved in making crude bombs. The ruling party, however, has consistently dismissed these charges as a smear campaign orchestrated to malign its image.

Maity’s arrest is expected to intensify political tensions in the state and may lead to further revelations as the investigation progresses.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh