Arrest of two accused triggers political slugfest in Bengal

KOLKATA: The arrest of two accused in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe blast in West Bengal on Friday triggered a political slugfest in the state with the opposition BJP claiming that the TMC regime has turned the state into a safe haven for terrorists.

While the BJP attacked the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit back, praising the “prompt response” by the state police.

“NIA detains two chief suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, Mussavir Hussain Shazib and accomplice Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa, from Kolkata. Both likely belong to ISIS cell in Shivamogga, Karnataka and West Bengal . Unfortunately, under Mamata Banerjee has become a safe haven for terrorists,” BJP leader Amit Malviya said in a post on X.

Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Adbul Matheen Taha were arrested from East Medinipur district on Friday for their alleged involvement in the blast at the Bengaluru cafe on March 1 that left nine people injured.

Sources in the NIA said that several electronic gadgets and mobile phones have been recovered from the accused. The NIA has been granted three days transit remand to take the blast accused to a Bengaluru court.

Responding to Malviya’s post, the West Bengal Police put out a message on their official X handle, highlighting that it was a joint operation. “Falsehood at its worst! Contrary to the claims made by @amitmalviya, the fact is that, two suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case have been arrested from Purba Medinipur in a JOINT operation by the West Bengal Police and the Central Intelligence Agencies,” it said.

“West Bengal has NEVER been a safe haven for terrorists and the state police will continue to remain ever-vigilant in keeping its people safe from nefarious activities. The proactive role of WBP in the matter has been officially acknowledged by the Central Agencies,” the post added.

During a rally at Alipurduar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hit back, saying the BJP did not like the fact that the people in the state “wanted to live in peace”. “Heard one BJP leader saying that Bengal is not safe. The accused were hiding here for two hours and within a short span of time they were arrested due to a prompt response by our state police. What about states where you are in power? What about Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar? People of Bengal want to live in peace but the BJP doesn’t like this,” she said.