NIA raids Durgapur home of Bihar businessman Ghulam Raza in Bengal
Synopsis
A six-member NIA team descended on the Durgapur home of Bihar-origin businessman Ghulam Raza on 27 July — the latest in a string of escalating federal raids across West Bengal that have netted explosives caches, led to multiple arrests, and now prompted the state cabinet to sanction a dedicated NIA police station in Kolkata.
Key Takeaways
The NIA raided the Durgapur residence of Ghulam Raza , a Bihar -origin businessman, on 27 July in West Burdwan district, West Bengal .
A six-member NIA team , backed by Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissariat personnel, conducted the search; the purpose has not been officially disclosed.
Raza, originally from Muzaffarpur, Bihar , was reportedly a frequent overseas traveller for business; neighbours described the family as reclusive.
Last week, NIA recovered 20 bags of ammonium nitrate and multiple detonators in Birbhum district and arrested one suspect.
The West Bengal cabinet has approved a dedicated NIA Police Station in Kolkata to handle the agency's growing caseload in the state.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a raid and search operation on Monday, 27 July at the residence of Ghulam Raza, a Bihar-based businessman, in the industrial steel township of Durgapur, West Burdwan district, West Bengal. A six-member NIA team, including a woman officer, carried out the operation, accompanied by a large contingent from the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissariat.
What Is Known About the Raid
NIA officials have so far remained tight-lipped about the specific purpose of the search operation at Raza's residence. According to reports, Raza is originally from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and relocated to Durgapur with his wife and two sons. He owns a house adjacent to the Durgapur Steel Plant, where his family has been residing.
Neighbours told reporters that the family kept largely to themselves, avoiding interaction with local residents. Raza was reportedly a frequent traveller who made regular overseas trips, purportedly for business purposes.
NIA's Escalating Footprint in West Bengal
The Durgapur operation is part of a broader surge in NIA activity across West Bengal in recent weeks. Last week, NIA sleuths recovered a large cache of explosives — including 20 bags of ammonium nitrate and multiple detonators — during a raid in the Nalhati area of Birbhum district, and arrested one suspect in connection with that case.
Earlier this month, the agency launched an investigation into a blast at a residence in Rajarhat, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, leading to the arrest of three persons. The cluster of operations signals a marked intensification of the NIA's investigative presence in the state.
West Bengal Cabinet Clears Dedicated NIA Police Station
In a significant institutional development, the West Bengal cabinet led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari last week cleared a proposal to establish a dedicated NIA Police Station in Kolkata. State Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul confirmed that work on the new station would commence shortly.
Currently, the NIA's eastern regional headquarters — located in Salt Lake, Kolkata — manages all operations in the region. The new police station is being set up in direct response to the rising volume of cases the agency is handling in West Bengal.
What Comes Next
Further details about the Durgapur raid and any recoveries or arrests are awaited. With the NIA now receiving dedicated state infrastructure support and its operational tempo rising, analysts expect its West Bengal caseload to continue expanding in the near term.
Point of View
Birbhum, and Rajarhat within a single month point to a coordinated federal push in West Bengal that goes well beyond routine enforcement. The state cabinet's decision to sanction a dedicated NIA police station — unusual for a state government historically cautious about ceding ground to central agencies — suggests the operational pressure has become too significant to resist. What the Durgapur raid's undisclosed purpose actually is, and whether Raza's overseas travel patterns connect to any of the explosives cases, are the questions that will define the story's next chapter. Mainstream coverage has focused on individual raids; the structural shift — a permanent NIA footprint in the state — deserves equal attention.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ghulam Raza and why did the NIA raid his home?
Ghulam Raza is a Bihar-origin businessman originally from Muzaffarpur who relocated to Durgapur, West Bengal, with his family. The NIA conducted a raid at his residence on 27 July, but officials have not publicly disclosed the specific reason for the search operation.
What has the NIA been doing in West Bengal recently?
The NIA has significantly stepped up operations in West Bengal in recent weeks. It recovered 20 bags of ammonium nitrate and multiple detonators in Birbhum district, arrested one suspect there, and also arrested three persons in connection with a blast at a Rajarhat residence in Kolkata.
What is the new NIA Police Station approved for Kolkata?
The West Bengal cabinet, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, cleared a proposal to establish a dedicated NIA Police Station in Kolkata. State Minister Agnimitra Paul confirmed work will begin shortly, as the agency's existing eastern regional headquarters in Salt Lake is strained by a rising caseload.
Where exactly did the NIA raid take place?
The raid took place at a residential property in Durgapur, an industrial steel township in West Burdwan district, West Bengal. Raza's house is located adjacent to the Durgapur Steel Plant.
Have any arrests been made in the Durgapur raid?
No arrests have been confirmed in connection with the Durgapur raid as of the latest available information. Further details, including any recoveries or detentions, are still awaited from NIA officials.
