Landmine blast: Buddha orders inquiry, 8 detained

IGP (law and order) Raj Kanojia said, “We have detained eight persons after intensive raids at Bhadutala and some other villages throughout the night and they are being interrogated.”

Senior police officers, including IG (western Range) Kuldip Singh were camping in the area to help the investigation, he said.

Forensic experts were collecting samples from the area where bomb splinters lay scattered and a 5-ft crater had been formed due to the blast, he said.

Experts were ascertaining whether an IED had been used, he said.

Paswan had a close shave when the landmine blasted his security vehicle in the Maoist-infested district shortly after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed through the area of attack.

Paswan, along with his deputy Jiten Prasada and industrialist Sajjan Jindal, was travelling in the same government vehicle after attending the foundation-stone laying ceremony for the Jindal steel project in Salboni.

PM assures Paswan of enhanced security, WB CM orders inquiry

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan of enhanced security, a day after a landmine blasted his security vehicle in the Maoist-infested West Midnapore in West Bengal.

The Prime Minister had a word with Paswan and told him that he will direct the ministry concerned to enhance his security.

“The Prime Minister has assured me to do the needful to enhance security for me,” Paswan said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

“The West Bengal Chief Minister told me that a high-level inquiry has been ordered after it was found that it was a bomb blast,” he said.

Paswan had a close shave on Sunday when a landmine blasted his security vehicle in Baroa in West Midnapore district shortly after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya passed through the area of attack that left six policemen injured.

Immediately after the blast, LJP had demanded Z plus security for Paswan, saying that the blast was nothing but an attempt to assassinate him as Maoists had earlier also attacked their leader and even blown up his house in Bihar.

Vice President Hamid Ansari and Home Minister Shivraj Patil also called up Paswan today to inquire about his well-being.

Both Paswan and Bhattacharjee were returning after laying the foundation stone of the Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW group’s mega steel plant at Salboni in West Bengal. Industry Minister Nirupam Sen, Sajjan Jindal, senior JSW officials and a media team were also travelling on the same route.