National Investigation Agency (NIA) team conducts a search operation at the residence of TMC leader Saokat Molla in Bhangarh's South Bamunia area, in South 24 Parganas on June 4, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday (June 5, 2026) declared former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Saokat Molla absconding in connection with the Bhangar blast case in West Bengal, as it continued to carry out extensive searches to trace him, a senior officer said.Mr. Molla, the ex-MLA from Canning Purba, is believed to have gone into hiding, the officer said. All three mobile phones used by the accused are switched off, he said, adding that all relevant details of the accused have been shared with the Border Security Force (BSF) to ensure that he does not leave the country."We have declared Saokat Molla absconding and have alerted all agencies concerned. Necessary information has been shared with the BSF and other authorities to prevent any attempt to cross the international border," the officer told PTI.The official added that the agency is pursuing multiple leads regarding Mr. Molla's whereabouts. "There are indications that he may be hiding at a relative's residence. Several teams are carrying out searches and verification exercises. We are confident of tracing him soon," the official said.On Thursday (June 4, 2026), the central probe agency conducted searches at Mr. Molla's residence, party office and several locations, arresting one more person as part of its ongoing investigation into the explosion that took place in March, taking the total number of arrests to three.The person arrested on Thursday (June 4, 2026) is the driver of the four-wheeler, which was used to transport the bomb makers. "With the arrest of Sainur Molla, the driver of the SUV, the total arrests in the case have gone up to three," a release by the probe agency said. "A total of eight locations, including the residence and suspected hideouts of former MLA and absconder Saokat Molla, a prime suspect and conspirator in the case - were searched as part of the operations," it mentioned. The NIA officers questioned members of Mr. Molla's family and later held his son.According to the official, the central probe agency sleuths have evidence that Molla was last seen travelling on a motorcycle in the Chunakhali area towards Basanti early Thursday (June 4, 2026)."Preliminary information suggests that he may have been planning to move towards the riverine route leading to areas close to the India-Bangladesh border," he said. Acting on specific inputs, NIA teams, assisted by central forces, conducted overnight searches at a madrasa, nearby localities and forested areas, but failed to locate him.One person was killed, and three others sustained critical injuries in a crude bomb explosion at Dakshin Bamunia village in South 24 Parganas district on March 19, while bombs were allegedly being made there. Mr. Mollah, who represented the Canning Purba Assembly constituency and won elections in 2016 and 2021, recently had his security cover withdrawn by the State government. Published - June 05, 2026 06:22 pm IST
