Who Are the Four New Accused in the BJP Leader Attack Case in Bengal?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NIA charge sheets four new suspects in BJP leader attack.
- A total of 18 individuals are now charged in the case.
- The attack involved firearms and explosives.
- Concerns about public safety led to the NIA's involvement.
- The investigation has revealed a broader criminal conspiracy.
Kolkata, June 17 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Tuesday that it has filed charges against four additional suspects in the attack on BJP leader Priyangu Pandey at Bhatpara, an incident that occurred in August of the previous year in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
The newly charged individuals have been identified as Pious Prasad, also known as Sujal, Md. Tipu, known as Tipua, Mohit Mahato, referred to as Sahi, and Md. Javed, commonly called Anda.
According to the NIA, these four suspects face charges under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act in the third supplementary charge sheet submitted to the NIA Special Court in Kolkata on Monday.
With this latest development, a total of 18 individuals have been charged, of which 17 are in custody and one remains at large. Investigations by the NIA indicate that these four men played a significant role in the criminal conspiracy that led to the assault on Priyangu Pandey's convoy using explosives and firearms near Gate No. 3 of the Anglo Indian Jute Mill staff quarters in the Bhatpara area.
The attack occurred while Priyangu Pandey and his associates were en route to the residence of Arjun Singh, a former BJP Lok Sabha member from the Barrackpore constituency in the North 24 Parganas district.
During the incident, Pandey's driver Ravi Verma and an aide, Rabi Singh, sustained gunshot wounds.
The NIA's investigation has uncovered a detailed account of the criminal conspiracy behind the attack, which is elaborated within the charge sheet.
Following the incident, Pandey accused members of the ruling Trinamool Congress of orchestrating the premeditated attack against him.
In light of concerns regarding public safety, as explosives and firearms were involved, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the case to be transferred from the West Bengal Police to the NIA. Subsequently, the NIA initiated its investigation after registering a first information report.