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1 killed, 3 hurt in crude bomb blasts in Bengal; ‘they were planning to kill me,’ says TMC leader

According to the West Bengal police, the blasts took place in an abandoned house at around 9 pm on Friday at Rajour village in Purba Bardhaman’s Katwa region.

1 killed, 3 injured in crude bomb blasts in Bengal; TMC leader says devices were meant to target him, party offices

Rabindranath Chatterjee accused suspended TMC leader Jangal Sheikh, the former councillor of Ward 13 in Katwa municipality. (Express Photo)

One person died and three others were critically injured in crude bomb blasts in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman on Friday night, the police said, adding that they have cordoned off the blast site and are investigating the materials used in making the devices.

Following the incident, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Rabindranath Chatterjee alleged that the crude bombs were being made to target him and other party leaders, and claimed that a suspended party leader was behind it.

The deceased has been identified as Barkat Sheikh, while the injured are Sheikh Toofan Chowdhury, Ibrahim Sheikh, and Safiq Mondol. They were taken to Katwa sub-divisional hospital. Officer said Chowdhury is a notorious criminal who was recently released from jail.

According to the police, the blasts took place in an abandoned house at around 9 pm at Rajour village in the district’s Katwa region. “The police is on the spot and we have stated an investigation,” Kashinath Mishra, Sub-divisional Police officer (SDPO), Katwa, told reporters.

The roof of the house was damaged in the impact of the explosion. (Express Photo)

Prima facie, it appears that people were making crude bombs in an abandoned house in the village which blew up, officers said. The roof of the house was damaged in the impact of the explosion.

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Reacting to the blasts, TMC’s Purba Bardhaman district president Rabindranath Chatterjee said, “They were planning to kill me and the others. Jangal Sheikh is behind all this. Toofan Chowdhury works for him,” he told media persons.

Suspended TMC leader Jangal Sheikh is the former councillor of Ward 13 in Katwa municipality. He was arrested in 2015 in a murder case and is presently in jail.

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“They were making and stockpiling crude bombs which would have been used to attack our party offices in the region. They also planned to start illegal sand mining in the area,” Chatterjee claimed.

Ravik Bhattacharya

Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read More

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