NIA officers in plain clothes for Bengal Phase 2 polls amid crude bomb threat
Synopsis
With 79 crude bombs already seized from Bhangar and hyper-sensitive constituencies on alert, the NIA is going undercover for West Bengal's Phase 2 polls — a rare move that signals just how volatile the electoral ground remains, even as 2,407 companies of central forces surround every booth.
Key Takeaways
The NIA will deploy plain-clothes officers across 142 constituencies in West Bengal for the Phase 2 polls on Wednesday .
79 crude bombs were recovered from the Bhangar area under Kolkata Police's jurisdiction; NIA took over the case on Monday .
The NIA re-registered an FIR dated 25 April 2026 from Uttarkashi Police Station and formally began its probe.
The ECI removed Joint BDO Sourav Hazra of Falta block, South 24 Parganas for alleged bias, replacing him with Rama Bhattacharya .
A total of 2,407 companies of central forces are deployed; webcasting will cover all polling stations.
Phase 2 results will be declared on 4 May .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will deploy officers in plain clothes across 142 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal on Wednesday as the state heads into the second phase of Assembly elections, with special focus on regions flagged as hyper-sensitive during the 2021 Assembly elections. The deployment follows the Election Commission of India's (ECI) directive to neutralise crude bomb threats on and around polling day.
Background: The Crude Bomb Recovery
On Monday, the NIA formally took over the investigation into a case involving the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials in West Bengal. The agency also re-registered an earlier FIR dated 25 April 2026 of Uttarkashi Police Station under the Bhangar division of Kolkata Police, and formally launched its probe.
According to officials, the materials were seized during a police operation in the Bhangar area following inputs about suspicious storage of explosive substances. The crude bombs were allegedly being stored at a particular location, posing, as officials described, a serious threat to human life and property.
NIA's Role on Polling Day
Following the ECI's instructions, NIA sleuths will be deployed in plain clothes on the polling day to prevent the use of crude bombs during or after the voting process. The deployment is specifically concentrated in areas that have historically recorded electoral violence, based on data from the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. This marks a notable escalation in central agency involvement in state poll security.
ECI Action: Officer Removed for Bias
In a separate development, the ECI on Tuesday removed Sourav Hazra, the Joint Block Development Officer of Falta block under Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district, on charges of acting in a biased manner. Hazra has been transferred to Purulia district with immediate effect and replaced by Rama Bhattacharya.
Unprecedented Security Cover
The second phase of polling will be conducted under an unprecedented security umbrella, with 2,407 companies of central forces deployed across the state. This includes personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the India Reserve Battalion, and armed police wings from other states, in addition to West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police personnel. Webcasting will be active at all polling stations to ensure transparency.
The results for the second phase are scheduled to be declared on 4 May. With crude bomb recoveries, officer removals, and a record central force deployment all converging ahead of a single polling day, the stakes for a free and fair election in West Bengal have rarely been higher.
Point of View
And that distinction matters. West Bengal's pattern of poll-time crude bomb violence has persisted across multiple electoral cycles, and the fact that 79 bombs were recovered days before voting suggests the problem is structural, not incidental. The ECI's simultaneous removal of a local officer for bias adds another layer: central agencies are effectively stepping in where state machinery is considered unreliable. The real accountability question is whether this level of intervention will be followed by sustained post-election investigation, or whether it ends the moment results are declared on 4 May.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the NIA being deployed for West Bengal Phase 2 polls?
The NIA is deploying plain-clothes officers across 142 constituencies on polling day following the recovery of 79 crude bombs in the Bhangar area and on the ECI's instructions to prevent their use during or after voting. The deployment focuses on areas flagged as hyper-sensitive during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
What was recovered in the Bhangar crude bomb case?
Kolkata Police recovered 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials from the Bhangar area, allegedly stored at a specific location and posing a serious threat to life and property. The NIA took over the investigation on Monday and re-registered the FIR dated 25 April 2026 from Uttarkashi Police Station.
What action did the ECI take ahead of Phase 2 polling?
The ECI removed Sourav Hazra, the Joint Block Development Officer of Falta block in South 24 Parganas, on charges of acting in a biased manner. He was transferred to Purulia district with immediate effect and replaced by Rama Bhattacharya.
How many central forces are deployed for West Bengal Phase 2 polls?
A total of 2,407 companies of central forces have been deployed, comprising Central Armed Police Forces, India Reserve Battalion personnel, and armed police from other states, alongside West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police.
When will the West Bengal Phase 2 election results be declared?
The results for the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections will be declared on 4 May.
