At least nine people were killed and two injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker unit in Egra block of West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Tuesday. Suspected gunpowder was kept in large quantities in the factory that was being run from the house of Krishnapada Bag, alias Bhanu Bagh at Khadikul village on the West Bengal-Odisha border, it is learnt. The impact of the blast that took place at 11:35am was such that the structure housing the illegal unit came crashing down. Local residents said they rushed to the spot after hearing a loud explosion only to find dismembered bodies scattered all over the place. The death toll is likely to go up, officials said. In a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was prompt to order an inquiry by the police's Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the incident even as the BJP, the principal Opposition party in the state, demanded that the National Investigation Agency take over the case. Purba Medinipur Superintendent of Police (SP) K Amarnath said, “The area has been cordoned off. The illegal firecracker factory was raided last month and action was taken against those running it." “What caused the incident will only be clear after an investigation,” the SP added. The factory owner continued manufacturing firecrackers illegally despite action was initiated against him, officials said. Also, a group of villagers clashed with a police team that visited the blast site, and chased them away. Some policemen received injuries in the melee, it was claimed. Announcing a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the next of the kin of those critically injured, CM Mamata Banerjee said that she had no objection to NIA probe. The CM also ordered a departmental inquiry against Egra police station Inspector Incharge Mousam Chakraborty amid allegations that he used to collect money from the factory owner for letting him carry out illegal operations. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking NIA probe into the case to “uncover the truth behind the devastating incident”. “This incident has not only caused casualties but has also instilled a deep sense of fear and insecurity within the local community. The gravity of the situation is further exacerbated by reports suggesting the presence of illegal firecracker manufacturing factories in the vicinity," he wrote. He went on suggest that the ammunition could possibly be used in the upcoming panchayat elections in the state. Leader of Opposition in state Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari took to Twitter saying, “Huge explosion in Sahara Village in Egra; Purba Medinipur, at the local "Regional Tola-Mool Party" leader - Krishnapada Bag's (alias Bhanu) house. I am receiving news from the ground that the number of casualties is enormous. Immediately Central Forces should be deployed as dead bodies are being shifted illegally by Mamata Police. I urge @HMOIndia & Hon'ble @BengalGovernor to initiate @NIA_India investigation as early as possible before evidence is tampered.”
