NIA arrests two prime accused in Bengal's Amta bomb blast case
Synopsis
Two men identified as the masterminds behind an illegal crude bomb-making operation in West Bengal's Amta area have been arrested by the NIA — more than three years after the bombs accidentally exploded during assembly, killing one person. The arrests signal the NIA's push to dismantle the broader network behind what investigators say was a deliberate campaign to terrorise the local population.
Key Takeaways
The NIA arrested Asfar Middya and Entajul Middya on Tuesday night, 24 June 2025 , from Amta, Howrah (Rural), West Bengal .
Both are identified as prime accused who directed illegal crude bomb manufacturing near Chandrapur Bazar in the Amta police station area.
The original blast occurred on 23 February 2022 ; Sk Maharam died from injuries sustained in the explosion.
The NIA took over the case from local police in April 2024 , registering it as RC-08-2024/NIA/DLI .
Four other individuals were arrested and chargesheeted earlier in the same case; investigations are continuing.
Investigators concluded the bombs were intended to threaten and terrorise the local population.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two prime accused in connection with the 2022 Amta bomb blast in Howrah district, West Bengal, following overnight searches at three suspected hideouts on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The crude bomb explosion, which occurred on 23 February 2022, killed one person and left several others with severe injuries.
Who Was Arrested
The arrested individuals have been identified as Asfar Middya and Entajul Middya, both residents of the Amta area of Howrah (Rural). According to the NIA, the duo were the masterminds directing the illegal manufacture of crude bombs near Chandrapur Bazar in the Amta police station area.
What Happened in the 2022 Blast
The incident unfolded on 23 February 2022 when crude bombs being assembled near Chandrapur Bazar accidentally detonated. The explosion severely injured Jahadhar Mollah, Mohabbat Mollah, Moinur Rahaman, and Sk Maharam. Of these, Sk Maharam later succumbed to his injuries, according to an official statement.
NIA's Findings and Prior Arrests
The NIA took over the investigation from local police in April 2024, registering the case as RC-08-2024/NIA/DLI. Investigators established that the bombs were not being made for personal use — authorities concluded they were intended to threaten and terrorise the local population. Prior to Tuesday's arrests, four other individuals had already been arrested and chargesheeted in the same case, with the probe ongoing.
What Happens Next
The two newly arrested accused are currently being interrogated by NIA officials. Investigations into the broader network behind the illegal bomb-manufacturing operation are continuing. This comes amid heightened federal scrutiny of crude bomb incidents in West Bengal, a state that has seen recurring politically linked explosive violence in recent years.
Point of View
Federal agencies take over when political or organised crime links emerge, and the real principals are reached only after prolonged investigation. West Bengal's crude bomb problem is not new — it has been documented across election cycles and factional conflicts for over a decade. The critical question the NIA's chargesheet will need to answer is who commissioned the bombs and whether the supply chain extends beyond these two individuals. Arrests of 'prime accused' mean little if the network behind them remains intact.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the NIA arrested in the Amta bomb blast case?
The NIA arrested Asfar Middya and Entajul Middya , both from the Amta area of Howrah (Rural), West Bengal, on Tuesday night, 24 June 2025. They are identified as the prime accused who directed the illegal crude bomb manufacturing operation near Chandrapur Bazar.
What was the Amta bomb blast of 2022?
On 23 February 2022 , crude bombs being illegally assembled near Chandrapur Bazar in the Amta police station area accidentally exploded. Four individuals — Jahadhar Mollah, Mohabbat Mollah, Moinur Rahaman, and Sk Maharam — were severely injured; Sk Maharam later died from his injuries.
When did the NIA take over the Amta bomb blast investigation?
The NIA took over the investigation from local police in April 2024 , registering the case as RC-08-2024/NIA/DLI . Prior to Tuesday's arrests, four other individuals had already been arrested and chargesheeted in the same case.
Why were the bombs being manufactured in Amta?
According to NIA investigators, the crude bombs were not being made for personal use. Authorities concluded that the devices were intended to threaten and terrorise the local population in the Amta area of Howrah district.
What happens next in the NIA's Amta bomb blast investigation?
The two arrested accused are currently under interrogation by NIA officials. Investigations into the wider network behind the bomb-manufacturing operation are ongoing, and further developments in the case are expected as the probe continues.
