NIA arrests absconding accused from Bengaluru in West Bengal mob attack case

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested an accused from Bengaluru in the 2024 West Bengal mob attack case.

The agency said that Mohit Mahato alias Sahil was arrested in the city in the afternoon by a team of NIA investigators. Mahato is an accused in the mob attack on Priyangu Pandey, a BJP leader.

Pandey and his entourage were attacked near gate no 3 of the Anglo Indian Jute Mill staff quarter, Bhatpara, on August 28, 2024. Two people, including the driver, suffered gunshot injuries. They were on the way to the residence of former MP Arjun Singh.

The arrest was made following sustained efforts and based on various technical and human intelligence inputs, the NIA said.

"The NIA team also seized from him some incriminating documents along with a mobile phone, which are under examination. With the arrest of Mohit, a resident of Bhatpara (West Bengal), a total of 17 accused have been arrested so far in the case. While 12 arrests were made by the state police soon after the attack, the NIA has arrested 5 more accused in the case," the agency said.

NIA, which took over the investigation in the case in November 2024, found Mohit’s involvement in the conspiracy and launched a manhunt for him. The agency, which is continuing with its investigation, has filed three charge sheets against a total of 14 accused in the case to date.