NIA names Shakir Ali as mastermind in 2023 Bengal Ram Navami violence case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet regarding the 2023 Ram Navami violence in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. The agency has named Shakir Ali, the husband of former Trinamool Congress MP Aparupa Poddar, as the mastermind behind the unrest.

According to the NIA, the violence was a planned conspiracy intended to achieve political gains. The chargesheet names a total of 43 accused individuals, including 20 previously arrested by state police and two arrested by the NIA. Shakir Ali, a former councilor for Rishra Municipality, is currently out on bail.

The investigation highlights that the 2023 unrest involved bomb attacks, vandalism, and arson, which caused significant panic in the Rishra area. The NIA reported the recovery of swords, explosives, and gunpowder during the investigation, including items found at the residence of another accused, Kamran Qureshi.