Kolkata: Child killed, several injured in suspected 'socket bomb' explosion
Kolkata, Oct 2 (IBNS): An eight-year-old boy lost his life, three days before his birthday, and at least nine other persons sustained serious injuries in a suspected low intensity socket bomb blast at Nagerbazar's congested Kajipara area under Dumdum Police Station limits in Kolkata's neighbourhood South Dumdum on Tuesday morning, police officials said.
According to reports, the explosion occurred at around 9:30 am. in front of a fruits' godown, which is located in the ground floor of multi-storey Seema Apartment at 9, Jessore Road.
Locals said that office of TMC ruled South Dumdum Municipality's chairman Panchu Roy's office is located in ground floor of the same building in front of which the explosion took place.
Image: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Police officials said that the deceased child, who was a second standard student of a local school, came with his mother to buy sweets in a shop near the blast-spot.
"The child, who has been identified as Bibhas Ghosh (8), was seriously hurt in the explosion and was rushed to R.G.Kar Medical College and Hospital with nine other injured persons," a local police official told IBNS.
"As the child's condition deteriorated, he was shifted to SSKM hospital where the seven-year-old was pronounced dead," the official said.
"Five persons are undergoing treatment at R.G.Kar hospital and two of them are in critical conditions," the police officer added.
Following the explosion, a heavy police force led by senior officials of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate rushed to the scene and state Criminal Investigation Department (CID)'s Bomb Disposal Squad examined the spot later.
After visiting the scene, commissioner of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, Rajesh Kumar Singh, told IBNS, "We have begun investigation into it and CID's bomb disposal unit is examining the scene to establish the reason and nature of the blast."
"Preliminary we are suspecting that it was not an incident of LPG cylinder explosion and probably a low-intensity country made socket bomb went off there. We can confirm the exact reason behind the blast after probe," Rajesh Kumar Singh added.
The official, however, confirmed that no presence of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) had been found at the scene.
Meanwhile, local municipality's chairman Panchu Roy claimed that he was the actual target of the blast.
Image: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Later, two state ministers, Jyotipriya Mallick and Purnendu Basu, also visited the blast site.
Blaming BJP for the deadly explosion, Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick told IBNS, "BJP and RSS are involved in the blast and targeting South Dumdum Municipality's chairman Panchu Roy, they detonated bomb which has claimed an eight-year-old's life."
"Our condolences are with the deceased's family and we will provide all supports to the injured persons, who are undergoing treatment at hospital," Mallick said.
Denying all allegations against his party, West Bengal president of BJP, Dilip Ghosh, told IBNS, "Neither BJP nor RSS was involved in such a heinous incident that claimed a life."
"Blaming BJP and RSS for each and every incident happening in the state has become a new practice by TMC," Ghosh added.
However, a heavy police force and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have posted at the explosion site.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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