Bengal Polls: NIA Steps In After 79 Crude Bombs Found In Bhangar Days Before Final Phase

In a significant development ahead of the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday took over the probe into the recovery of 79 crude bombs from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, following directions from the Union Home Ministry.

According to sources who spoke to CNN-News18, the quantity of ready-to-use crude bombs and raw explosive materials suggests organised manufacturing and stockpiling, raising serious concerns over election security just days before polling on April 29.

The NIA has registered a case and begun its investigation into the recovery made by Kolkata Police, which had seized the explosives from a location where they were allegedly being stored, posing a threat to human

life and property.

“This is not a minor local offence,” a top government source said, adding that crude bombs have frequently been used in political intimidation, booth capturing and street violence in West Bengal.

The development assumes significance as it comes just days before the second and final phase of polling, with Bhangar among the constituencies set to vote on April 29. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Sources said such stockpiles undermine democratic processes by enabling fear and muscle power during elections. “Repeated incidents in Bhangar signal a dangerous normalisation of crude bombs as political tools,” a source said.

Describing the case as “highly serious”, officials pointed out that the recovery was made in a politically sensitive and violence-prone area, where past incidents have raised concerns over law and order during elections.

Bhangar, in South 24 Parganas, has a long history of political clashes and crude bomb usage, making any large-scale recovery a direct threat to public order and electoral integrity.

“Timely intervention prevented a possible disaster, but the probe must uncover the roots to deter future threats,” a source added, warning that any delay or local shielding could escalate risks to both lives and the electoral process.

The development also comes amid heightened vigilance by the Election Commission. According to a PTI report, the poll panel has directed police to launch a special drive against those involved in manufacturing crude bombs and warned officers of strict action in case of lapses.

The directive followed the recovery of the explosives from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker. The bombs were seized during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, officials said.

The Commission has also said that all cases related to bomb-making would be probed by the NIA, underlining the seriousness of the threat.

In the first phase of polling held on April 23, West Bengal recorded a turnout of 93.19 per cent, with authorities now focusing on ensuring a secure environment for voters in the final phase.