The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched raids at seven locations in West Bengal, targeting funding for Maoist or Left Wing Extremist (LWE) groups operating primarily in Chhattisgarh. The operations began on Tuesday morning.
Raids are taking place in Sodepur and Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas district, as well as in Asansol in West Burdwan district. Each NIA team is accompanied by personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
The investigation focuses on four individuals: self-proclaimed social workers Manabesh Chakraborty, Shipra Chakraborty, and Sudipta Paul. Officials suspect they are “Urban Naxalites” involved in financing LWE groups. Also under scrutiny is Avigyan Sarkar, a self-identified research scholar and alumnus of Kolkata’s Jadavpur University.
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Sources indicate that these raids are based on specific intelligence linking the four individuals to pan-India LWE organizations, particularly those active in Chhattisgarh. Investigators aim to identify their direct connections with these groups.
Furthermore, the NIA has gathered information suggesting that, in addition to funding, these individuals may also be involved in recruiting educated youths into Maoist movements.
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government aims to eradicate LWE from India by March 2026. He emphasized the need to intensify efforts against LWE and work with renewed urgency to eliminate this threat from the country.
