The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant arrest in a high-profile political murder case from 2023, reigniting political tensions in West Bengal's East Midnapore district. The agency arrested Trinamool Congress worker Swapan Bhowmik on Friday night in connection with the killing of BJP booth president Bijoy Krishna Bhunia.
The Arrest After 18 Months on the Run
Swapan Bhowmik, a resident of Sabang in East Midnapore, was reportedly absconding for over a year and a half. According to agency sources, he was finally apprehended from his daughter's residence in Dashgram, Sabang. The arrest marks a crucial development in a case that has seen multiple twists and has been a major point of contention between the state's ruling party and the opposition.
Recap of the 2023 Panchayat Election Murder
The incident dates back to May 1, 2023, during the heated run-up to the panchayat elections. Bijoy Krishna Bhunia, who served as the BJP booth president for Goramahal village under the Bakra gram panchayat, was abducted from outside his home. His body was discovered hours later. The murder, occurring in a volatile political climate, immediately sparked allegations and demands for a thorough investigation.
Initially, the local police handled the probe. However, Bhunia's family, dissatisfied with the progress, moved the Calcutta High Court. They alleged a "state-sponsored cover-up" and insisted on an investigation by a central agency. The court subsequently ordered the case to be transferred to the NIA.
Political Fallout and Accusations Fly
The arrest has triggered a fresh political war of words in East Midnapore. The BJP has welcomed the NIA's action. Prosenjit Bhowmik, a BJP leader and deputy chief of the Bakcha gram panchayat, stated, "Swapan Bhowmik was on the run since the murder. While the agency is doing its job, our only demand is justice for the killing of Bhunia."
In stark contrast, the Trinamool Congress has labeled the arrest as politically motivated. A local TMC leader, Pradip De, accused the central agency of being used as a tool to destabilize the party ahead of elections. "Whenever Trinamool strengthens its base in Moyna, the NIA starts picking up our frontline workers," De claimed. He further questioned the pace of the investigation, saying, "Even after 18 months, the agency hasn't filed a final charge sheet. Yet, it continues to harass our netas to instill fear."
The NIA is expected to produce Swapan Bhowmik before a special court and seek his custody for further interrogation. This development ensures that the case, and the political rivalry surrounding it, will remain in the spotlight as legal proceedings move forward.
