The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Tuesday conducted a series of raids in West Tripura and Sepahijala districts in at least four locations including the house of senior CPI (M) leader Pabitra Kar's house in the West Tripura district.

Sources said that ED raids four locations in the state including at Badharghat Naba Jagarana Sangha area, AD Nagar area, Nalchar area, and Khayerpur area. Since Tuesday morning, simultaneous raids have been carried out by the Enforcement Directorate, though related to different matters.

Till afternoon, ED officials conducted searches at the house of Swarup Banik in Camper Bazar area. Central paramilitary forces have been deployed for security.

Apart from Swarup Banik’s house, the raids were conducted at the residences of Mihir Debnath, Paritosh Bhowmik, and CPI (M) leader Pabitra Kar in West Tripura district, as well as Haradhan Baidya in Sepahijala district. Pabitra Kar is a former deputy speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. No comments were available from the CPI (M) over the raids.

Sources added that Swarup Banik is a retired employee of the Fire Service. It is reported that during his tenure as a manager in a private company, he earned a significant amount of money. His brother, Somesh Banik, is a TCS officer currently posted at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office in Bishalgarh subdivision.

The source said the raids concerned alleged financial crimes and land graft issues, though no official statement was available from the ED over the raids.

A team of security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assisted the ED team in the raid.

A copy of the raid at the house of Mihir Debnath of Agartala said that , “… During the course of the search proceedings, the whole premises were thoroughly searched and no incriminating documents/material has been seized and, hence, NIL seizure recorded.”

The source indicated that the raids aimed to trace unverified wealth and freeze bank accounts related to ongoing investigations.

It may be recalled here that on January 10, the ED conducted a series of raids in different parts of West Tripura and Sepahijala districts, especially in the households of a few people in Agartala and Melaghar municipality, Kalamchowra village.

The central agency at that time also did not reveal the findings of the raids. However, sources said those who were raided were suspected of being involved with drug peddling.