Burdwan blast case probe be handled by NIA: BJP

Kolkata, Oct 6: BJP on Monday expressed apprehension that state agencies might cover up the Burdwan blast case and demanded that the investigation into it be handled by the NIA.

"Why is the Trinamool Congress government not handing over the investigation (into the Burdwan blast) to the NIA? The delay is raising serious questions of a cover up. The BJP demands that the investigation be handled by the NIA and no state agency," party National Secretary Siddharth Nath Singh Singh told PTI.

Alleging that the links of a senior Burdwan police officer with the TMC were "very well known", he said he was tranferred by the Election Commission just before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had promised to bring him back to the same position after the elections, which she did.

"Has the TMC regime used their favorite officer to destroy the evidence and cover up the role of a section of the TMC leaders in anti-national activities?" Singh asked.

West Bengal Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee has rejected allegations that the state not cooperating with the central agencies.

"I would like to deny this. Senior officials of both sides are in touch. It is a far serious matter between the Centre and the state," he has said.

"Certain media reports said that posters relating to al-Qaeda were found. No such poster has been found so far. Investigation is on," according to Banerjee.

A total three persons, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the October 2 blast at Khagragarh in which two suspected militants were killed.

PTI