3 killed, several injured in blast near TMC rally
CONTAI: At least three people were killed and several others injured in a blast near the venue of senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee’s rally in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, police said on Saturday.
The incident took place in Block 2 of Arjunnagar in Bhupatinagar area, 1.5 km from Contai town where TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee addressed a public meeting on Saturday, a police officer said.
“The blast was reported in a house around 11.15 pm on Friday and three bodies were recovered on Saturday morning. A few others are injured. The cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained and further investigation is underway.
“The impact was so powerful that the mud house with a thatched roof was blown off in the incident,” the senior officer of Bhupatinagar Police Station said.
The three deceased were identified as Rajkumar Manna, who is reportedly a TMC worker, Debkumar Manna and Biswajit Gayen, he said. A forensic team later reached the spot and collected samples and a huge police team was deployed there.
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari alleged involvement of the deceased TMC member in the blast and demanded an NIA investigation into the incident.
“3 Dead & 2 others grievously injured as TMC Leader’s house blows up in (an) explosion at Bhupatinagar, Bhagabanpur II Block, Purba Medinipur District. TMC leader Rajkumar Manna was making bombs at his home when this high intensity explosion happened. I demand @NIA_India Investigation,” Adhikari tweeted.