On Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked the Bengal government for a detailed report on the attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in the Sandeshkhali area of 24 North Parganas district on January 5, when the three ED officials got injured during the attack and all of their belonging like laptops, mobiles were looted by the mobs. Further, the sources from the ministry stated that the MHA has also asked the state government to send the details of the actions taken and other related information.
MHA seeks “report” on attack
The MHA is likely to seek a multi-faceted report from the Bengal government regarding the attack on ED officials. The ministry asked for a detailed account of the location, time of events, and information about the individuals like identities, affiliations and possible motives. Also, details on the security measures in place at the time of the attack and how they breached the location. Besides, the ministry also asked for the Bengal govt regarding the response to the attack by the local authorities and security forces, and the details about the ongoing investigation.
What Bengal govt say about the attack on ED?
The West Bengal govt has strongly condemned the recent attacks on ED officials in the state, calling them “unfortunate and condemnable”. They have assured the MHA of their complete cooperation in the investigation, including providing all the necessary resources and assistance to apprehend the perpetrators. Moreover, the govt has stressed its commitment to upholding the law and order in the state and ensuring the safety of all individuals, including central agencies.
The West Bengal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay claimed the recent attack on ED officers was “an explosion of public”. Meanwhile, the ED director said to take a proper look at the incident.
ED’s response on ‘post-attack’
The ED interim director Rahul Navin visited West Bengal to take a look over the situation following the attack on the central agency’s officials. He reviewed the alleged public distribution system (PDS) scam in West Bengal and discussed the security concerns of the local ED establishment, as people are familiar with the raids.
The ED claimed in a press statement that the magnitude of the scam was enormous and the proceeds of the crime transferred is about Rs 9,000-10,000 cr, of which an amount of Rs 2,000 cr is suspected to be transferred to Dubai or Bangladesh. Furthermore, the ED has also filed a complaint with the police, but it is claimed that the cops have registered the case with ‘not punishable’ IPC Sections on the suspects.
Anticipation of this incident
The recent attack on ED officials in West Bengal has sent shockwaves across the nation, raising serious security concerns for central agency officials. However, this incident has cast a shadow over the already strained relationship between the central and West Bengal governments. The MHA report and the state government’s response will be closely watched as they may hold the key to restoring normalcy in the state.
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