Rajarhat house blast: Second arrest made, NIA takes over case in Kolkata
Synopsis
A house blast in Kolkata's Rajarhat that injured one person has rapidly escalated into an NIA case. Two are arrested, two more detained, and live bombs were recovered from the site — pointing to a network far larger than a single rented room in Supari Bagan.
Key Takeaways
A second arrest — broker Shahenshah — was made on Sunday in the Rajarhat house blast case, taking total arrests to two .
Main accused Mohammad Shamim was arrested on Saturday from Sodepur, North 24 Parganas .
Shahenshah allegedly helped Shamim rent the house using a fake identity .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case from local police.
The bomb squad recovered two fresh live bombs from the blast site in Supari Bagan, Dakshin Narayanpur .
House owner Zulfiqar Ali and a minor have been detained; a search is on for at least one more suspect .
A second person has been arrested in connection with the house explosion in the Supari Bagan area of Rajarhat, Kolkata, bringing the total number of arrests to two, police confirmed on Sunday, 20 July. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since taken over the case, signalling the gravity of the incident.
Who Has Been Arrested
The latest accused, identified as Shahenshah, is described by police as a broker who allegedly facilitated the main accused, Mohammad Shamim, in securing a rented room at the blast site using a fake identity. Shahenshah was taken into custody following prolonged interrogation, according to police.
Mohammad Shamim had been arrested on Saturday from Sodepur in North 24 Parganas district. In addition to the two arrests, a minor and the house owner, Zulfiqar Ali, have been detained for questioning.
What Happened at the Blast Site
The explosion occurred late on Friday night at a house in the Dakshin Narayanpur locality of Rajarhat, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. One person was injured in the blast. Officers from the Narayanpur police station launched an immediate investigation and detained two persons at the scene.
The bomb squad subsequently recovered two additional fresh bombs from the premises. Forensic experts were also deployed to determine the precise cause and source of the explosion. The NIA's takeover of the investigation underlines the suspected seriousness of the case.
The Broker Connection
According to police, Shamim had rented the house through Shahenshah only a few days before the blast, allegedly using a forged identity to avoid detection. Investigators are still searching for at least one more suspect believed to be connected to the incident, police said.
Political Reaction
Rajarhat New Town MLA Piyush Kanodia of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) visited the site on Saturday and interacted with local residents. He was critical of the prevailing law-and-order situation in the area.
'A reign of terror has been created in this entire area to scare people. Whoever has ruled here for so many years has destroyed the entire area. I want to give everyone one message — we don't want terrorism, we want education. We will not accept machine guns or guns being handed over to anyone. We want to hand over books and pens to the youth,' Kanodia said.
What Happens Next
With the NIA now steering the probe, the investigation is expected to expand in scope and jurisdiction. Authorities have indicated that the search for additional suspects remains active. The recovery of live bombs from the premises suggests the matter extends well beyond a localised incident, and further arrests cannot be ruled out.
Point of View
Not a stray incident. The use of a fake identity to rent the premises, the recovery of live bombs, and the active search for additional suspects all point to pre-meditated activity. West Bengal's recurring bomb-recovery incidents — particularly in districts bordering Bangladesh — have long drawn scrutiny; whether this case connects to a broader pattern is precisely what the NIA will now probe. Local political blame-trading, while predictable, risks obscuring the more urgent question of how such material reached a residential neighbourhood undetected.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been arrested in the Rajarhat house blast case?
Two people have been arrested so far: Mohammad Shamim , the main accused, held on Saturday from Sodepur in North 24 Parganas, and Shahenshah , a broker arrested on Sunday after interrogation. House owner Zulfiqar Ali and a minor have been separately detained for questioning.
What caused the explosion in Rajarhat?
The exact cause is still under forensic investigation. The blast occurred late on Friday night at a house in the Supari Bagan area of Dakshin Narayanpur, Rajarhat. The bomb squad recovered two additional live bombs from the premises, suggesting the presence of explosive material at the location.
Why has the NIA taken over the Rajarhat blast case?
The National Investigation Agency took over the probe given the nature of the evidence — including recovered live bombs and the suspected use of a fake identity to rent the premises. NIA jurisdiction typically applies when a case has potential links to terrorism or organised explosive activity.
Who is Shahenshah and what is his alleged role?
Shahenshah is identified by police as a broker who allegedly helped main accused Mohammad Shamim secure a rented room at the blast site using a forged identity. He was arrested after extended interrogation on Sunday.
Is the Rajarhat blast investigation still ongoing?
Yes. Authorities confirmed that a search is underway for at least one more suspect believed to be involved. With the NIA now leading the investigation, the probe is expected to widen in scope beyond the two individuals already arrested.
