Kolkata: The National Investigation Agency, or NIA, conducted searches at premises linked to three activists and researchers across West Bengal on Thursday morning, triggering concern among civil liberties groups and rights organisations.
According to activists, the searches began around 4.30 am and targeted individuals involved in grassroots campaigns, student movements, and anti-displacement initiatives. The NIA is reportedly investigating links between the activists and a 2022 Ranchi case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code concerning the alleged revival of Maoist activity in eastern India.
Among those searched was Jhelum Roy, a scholar and activist associated with Feminine in Resistance. Roy had played a leading role in protests at Kolkata’s Park Circus against voter deletions linked to the Special Intensive Revision process before the Bengal elections.
NIA teams also searched the residence of Tathagata Roy Chowdhury, general secretary of the Revolutionary Students’ Front, and visited Sukumar Kayal, a government school teacher and organiser with the Sangrami Krishak Manch. Kayal has recently participated in campaigns opposing voter deletions.
The activists said officials seized books, magazines, leaflets, receipt books, and legal documents. Roy stated that all seized books were publicly available and not banned. Roy Chowdhury said investigators took little magazines, pamphlets, and copies of court documents related to the same case under investigation.
Following the search, Roy Chowdhury received a summons directing him to appear in Ranchi for further questioning.
The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights criticised the action and alleged that authorities were attempting to create fear among organisers of public movements. The organisation argued that growing protests on issues such as voter deletions and other public concerns have drawn increasing public participation across the state.
