2 dead, 7 hurt in bomb explosion near Indo-bangladesh border

MALDA: Two men died and seven others were critically injured in Bengal’s Malda district on Tuesday when crude bombs that they were allegedly making went off.

The area is very close to the Indo-bangladesh border.

The bomb makers were allegedly hired by Tarun Ghosh, a former TMC activist accused of extorting money from truckers crossing the border every day, according to the police.

Police took three of the injured to the Malda Medical College and Hospital. The four others injured were reportedly carried away before the police reached the spot. The deceased were identified as Bapi Ghosh and Biswajit Ghosh, both in their mid-thirties.

The police also recovered live bombs and three plastic containers from the scene of crime. Locals told police that the men were making bombs in an open field and stored them in plastic containers.

The field is very close to the Mohdipur international land port through which hundreds of Bangladesh-bound goods vehicles pass, every week.

Truckers are allegedly forced to pay “security money” to local gangs while parking in the area as they wait for examination of documents by officials.

A district police official, on condition of anonymity, said his officers learnt from locals that Tarun Ghosh hired the men to make bombs to use in a turf war. “For the last few months, two groups have been trying to establish control on the extortion business. Some truckers have been assaulted for refusing to pay the toughs. A couple of vehicles were even set on fire ...” the officer said.

District youth TMC president Amlan Bhaduri said Tarun Ghosh used to be a party activist. “The accused was a supporter of our party but now he has detached himself from the organisation...” said Bhaduri.