The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday apprehended a key suspect in Bengaluru in connection with the 2024 Bhatpara mob attack case in West Bengal.
The accused, identified as Mohit Mahato, also known as Sahil, was arrested in the afternoon by an NIA team following sustained investigation and a combination of technical and human intelligence inputs. Mahato is one of the suspects involved in the violent attack on BJP leader Priyangu Pandey and his convoy near Gate No. 3 of the Anglo Indian Jute Mill staff quarters, Bhatpara, on August 28, 2024.
The incident resulted in gunshot injuries to two individuals, including the driver. The group was reportedly en route to the home of former MP Arjun Singh when the attack occurred.
The NIA stated that during the arrest, several incriminating documents and a mobile phone were recovered from Mahato, which are currently under analysis. With this arrest, the total number of individuals taken into custody in this case has risen to 17—12 of whom were initially arrested by the state police and 5 by the NIA.
Since assuming control of the investigation in November 2024, the NIA has made significant progress, including the filing of three charge sheets involving 14 accused persons. Mahato, a resident of Bhatpara, was found to have played a role in the broader conspiracy behind the attack.
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