Kolkata, 04 June (H.S.) : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out a major search operation at the residence of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Shaukat Molla in connection with a bomb blast case in Bhangar on Thursday morning. The operation was conducted at his residence in Jibantala under heavy security deployment, including state police and central forces.

According to officials, a team of NIA officers arrived in nearly 10 vehicles and cordoned off the entire area before initiating the search operation. Shaukat Molla was reportedly not present at his residence at the time of the raid and is said to be absconding, according to sources.

During the operation, his son, Imran Molla, was brought to the residence and accompanied the investigation team inside the house, where questioning and documentation checks were carried out. The agency also conducted searches at Molla’s office premises as part of the ongoing investigation.

Family members, including his wife and daughter, later reached the residence as security personnel maintained a strict perimeter around the area. Officials have been examining documents and collecting evidence related to the blast incident.

Sources said that the NIA is scrutinising records and other materials linked to the explosion, while also visiting locations connected to victims and vehicles used to transport the injured after the incident.

The blast in Bamonia area of Bhangar had resulted in one death and several injuries, triggering tensions in the region. The incident had also led to multiple political accusations and counter-allegations at the time.

Shaukat Molla, a former MLA from the Canning East constituency, was elected to the West Bengal Assembly in 2016 and 2021. His security cover was recently withdrawn by the state government.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh