NIA Raids Shawkat Molla’s Residence at Dawn; Son of Former MLA Detained.

Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived at the residence of Shawkat Molla—an influential Trinamool leader from Bhangar—at the crack of dawn. This move has sparked intense political speculation. A major uproar had erupted within political circles prior to the elections following reports of a bomb blast in the South Bamunia village of Chaltaberia, located within the Bhangar Assembly constituency. Reports also emerged confirming the death of one individual in the incident. The NIA had already been conducting a full-scale investigation into this specific event. Now, the pace of the investigation has accelerated significantly. According to sources, the NIA raided Shawkat's home today specifically in connection with the ongoing inquiry into that incident.

Following the commencement of the investigation, another influential Trinamool leader—Ohidul Molla—was arrested just one day before the elections. Subsequently, Shawkat became the subject of intense political scrutiny. Finally, today, the National Investigation Agency visited the Moukhali residence of the former MLA for Canning East. Sources indicate that Shawkat himself was not present at the house. However, Shawkat Molla's son, Imran, has been detained. Investigators were seen moving around various parts of Moukhali accompanied by him.

Meanwhile, Wednesday turned out to be a day of 'reckoning' within the Trinamool Congress; the entire party organization appears to have fractured and crumbled. After days of continuous internal strife, Ritabrata Banerjee finally received the Speaker's "green signal" on Wednesday and took his seat as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Immediately upon assuming the role, he vented his grievances against Abhishek Banerjee—once considered the "second-in-command" of the Trinamool Congress. Interestingly, Shawkat Molla met with this very Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday night. According to sources, Shawkat held a conversation with Ritabrata for approximately ten minutes inside the Assembly premises. Their discussion reportedly focused on the current political landscape of the state. This sudden meeting between Shawkat and Ritabrata has now become a hot topic of discussion within political circles.