A child was killed and nine people were injured at the Nagerbazar explosion in Kolkata on Tuesday. The explosion took place near a building at Dum Dum in the northern part of Kolkata.
According to an investigation by the police and the bomb squad, it was discovered ammonium nitrate was used for the explosion in the busy area of Kazipara.
Ananda Roy, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Barrackpore Commissionerate stated, “As per the initial investigation, ammonium nitrate was used in the low-intensity blast outside a fruit shop on the ground floor of the building in the congested Kazipara area under the jurisdiction of Dum Dum police station around 9 A.M.”
A police officer reported, “It was a socket bomb explosion. A forensic team and the bomb squad of CID are examining the spot. We have started further investigation.” In addition, another policeman said, “Initially, we thought it was a gas cylinder blast. But it is not so. We have found a few iron nails but there is no smell of gunpowder.”
A political angle has been added to the case. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) held the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responsible for the blast and accused them of targeting the South Dum Dum Municipality Chairman and TMC Chief Panchu Gopal Roy.
The bomb blast took place at a warehouse, which was also the office of the TMC Chief.
Panchu Roy claimed, “It’s a well-planned conspiracy by our opponents, we had opposed their recent bandh in the area. I cannot say for sure if they are responsible for the blast because we cannot rule it out but they are behind all nefarious activities across the state.”
TMC North 24 Parganas District President and State Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick visited the spot and said, “The BJP is trying to play divisive politics.”
BJP State President Dilip Ghosh denied all the accusations against BJP and commented, TMC has a habit of blaming the saffron party for any incident in the state. He alleged the TMC party to be the storehouse of bombs.
The West Bengal CID has taken up the case and the investigation has started.
