Bhangar blast case, NIA declares ex-TMC MLA Saokat Molla absconding, shares details with BSF
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team is conducting a search operation at the residence of TMC leader Saokat Molly in South Bamunia area of Bhangarh 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 Mollu absconding in connection with the Bhangar blast case in West Bengal as it continued a massive manhunt to trace him, a senior officer said.
Mr Molla, a former 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 alerted all concerned agencies. Necessary information has been shared with BSF and other authorities to prevent any attempt to cross the international border,” the officer told PTI.
The official added that the agency was following several leads regarding Mr Molly’s whereabouts. “There are indications that he might be hiding at a relative’s residence. Several teams are conducting searches and verification exercises. We are confident that we will trace him soon,” the official said.
On Thursday (June 4, 2026), the Central Investigation Agency conducted searches at Mr. Molly’s residence, his party office and several locations, arresting one more person as part of the ongoing investigation into the March blast, bringing the total number of arrests to three.
Arrested on Thursday (June 4, 2026) is the driver of the four-wheeler used to transport the bomb makers. “With the arrest of Sainur Molly, the driver of the SUV, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to three,” the investigating agency said. “A total of eight places were searched as part of the operations, including the residence and suspected hideouts of former MLA and fugitive Saokat Molly, the prime suspect and conspirator in the case,” the report said. NIA officers interrogated Mr Molly’s family members and later detained his son.
According to the official, Central Probe sleuths have evidence that Molla was last seen traveling on a motorcycle in Chunakhali area towards Basanti early on Thursday (June 4, 2026).
“Preliminary information suggests that he may have been planning to move to the river route leading to areas close to the India-Bangladesh border,” he said. NIA teams, assisted by central forces, acted on specific inputs and conducted night searches in the madrasa, nearby localities and forested areas, but failed to locate him.
One person was killed and three others were seriously injured in a crude bomb blast at Dakshin Bamunia village in South 24 Parganas district on March 19 when bombs were allegedly being manufactured there. Mr Mollah, who represented the Canning Purba Assembly constituency and won the 2016 and 2021 elections, was recently stripped of his security cover by the state government.
Published – 05 Jun 2026 18:22 IST