NIA raids ex-Trinamool MLA Saokat Molla's residence in Bengal's South 24 Parganas 

KOLKATA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided the house of former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla in South 24 Parganas district.

NIA officials went to Saokat's house in Jibantala village in ​​the Canning block of the district. The search operation began in the presence of a large number of Central force personnel. The investigators are also searching the party office adjacent to Saokat's house.

However, it was initially reported that Saokat was not at home at the time of the raid. The investigators were questioning his son, Imran Molla. Saokat's wife and daughter were also in the house.

According to NIA sources, the search operation is in connection with the investigation into the bomb blast incident in the South Bamunia area in the same district.

The blast occurred a few days before the state Assembly elections in which one person died, and several others were injured.

Nawsad Siddiqui's party, Indian Secular Front (ISF), had demanded an NIA investigation into the incident. Later, the NIA took over the responsibility of the investigation. As part of the probe, the NIA was conducting the raid at Saokat's house and his party office. Sources said that Saokat fled the house before NIA officers came for the raid.