Taking cognisance of National Investigation Agency (NIA) allegedly deploying a 14-year-old boy to carry bags containing hand grenades in Bardhaman district on October 16, West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development Shashi Panja said a report has been sought.
As part of the ongoing investigation in the October 2 blast in Bardhaman district, the NIA raided the house of a suspect in Mathpara near Khagragarh last Thursday and recovered 40 live hand grenades.
The NIA reportedly asked a 14-year-old boy to assist them in bringing out the gunny bags containing the grenades from the house. The bags were reportedly kept hidden near the roof of the house which belonged to suspect Rezaul Karim.
Stating that the matter was reported to the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Ms. Panja told The Hindu : “We have asked for a detailed report regarding how a minor boy, without any protection, could have been deployed by the NIA for such a dangerous job. The matter has been brought to the notice of the Commission chairperson [Ashokendu Sengupta] and a report is awaited.”
When contacted, Mr. Sengupta said the next course of action would be decided after he got the report.
“I don’t know in detail what had happened. All I know is that the boy was involved in a life-threatening NIA raid. I have asked for a report from the Bardhaman District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police,” Mr. Sengupta said. The Minister has not yet spoken to any official in the Centre.
