Protesters await Saokat Molla with fish, eggs & ‘Mach Chor’ chants, demand his hanging

Former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla was produced before Kolkata’s City Sessions Court on Saturday after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Bhangar bomb blast case. His court appearance triggered protests outside both the NIA office in New Town and the court premises, where demonstrators raised slogans against him and demanded the harshest possible punishment, including hanging.

From the morning, supporters of rival political groups gathered outside the NIA office. Several protesters carried fish and eggs, stating that they intended to throw them at Molla when he was brought out of the agency’s office. Demonstrators also played songs referring to him as a “fish thief” and staged protests while shouting slogans against the former MLA. Security personnel remained deployed in the area as the protests continued.

Before being taken to court, Molla was escorted by NIA officials to a hospital in Bidhannagar for a medical examination. As the convoy arrived, protesters shouted slogans, some ran behind the vehicle and others struck its closed windows. Security arrangements were tightened during his movement between the NIA office, hospital and court.

Outside the court premises, BJP workers and other protesters gathered in large numbers. Several demonstrators demanded strict punishment, with some specifically calling for the death penalty. One protester alleged that local residents had faced intimidation for years and had been unable to secure justice. Another displayed injury marks and claimed he had been assaulted before the 2021, 2024 and 2026 elections by individuals linked to Molla.

The NIA had been searching for Molla for a prolonged period in connection with the Bhangar explosion case and had recently declared him absconding. According to allegations cited by investigators, he attempted to move toward the Bangladesh border and was later spotted near Chunakhali in South 24 Parganas, where local residents allegedly recognised him and began protesting. Molla was subsequently arrested in the Chingrighata area on Friday. Sources claimed that he was on his way to the NIA office to surrender when investigators took him into custody.