West Bengal: Four killed in Malda while making bombs

Earlier in the day, an explosion occurred when bombs were reportedly being made in the house of one Giasu Sheikh in Jaunpur village at about 1 am, SP Syed Waquar Raza said. The deceased were identified as Kalam Sheikh (35), Simu Sheikh (28), Surup Sheikh (35) and Alam Sheikh (30). Giasu Sheikh is reported to be absconding.

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Two more bombs were recovered from the village and the CID bomb disposal squad was alerted to defuse them. A senior police officer said the CID officials took the bombs to a desolate spot near the village to defuse them. During the process, the bombs suddenly exploded, seriously injuring three officials — Vishuddhananda Mishra, Subrata Chowdhury and Maniruzzaman.

All three were rushed to Malda Medical College and Hospital and were later on referred to Kolkata for further treatment. Mishra and Chowdhury succumbed to their injuries while they were being taken to Kolkata, the officer said.

Polling was held in the district on April 17, in the second phase of the state assembly polls. The village falls in Vaishnavnagar assembly constituency.

“As far as I know, one of those who has died was a panchayat member of the Trinamool Congress,’’ claimed Congress candidate Isha Ghani Khan Choudhry. Denying the charge, a TMC leader claimed it was a personal conflict between two families.

(With PTI inputs)

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