3 KILLED, SEVERAL INJURED IN BLAST NEAR VENUE OF RALLY BY TMC LEADER ABHISHEK

KOLKATA: A day after a blast was reported at the house of a local Trinamool Congress leader in West Bengal’s East Medinipur district, police on Saturday recovered three charred bodies within a 3-km radius of the site, an official said. Hours later, TMC’S national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee addressed a public rally around 35km from the site of the explosion.

“According to villagers, the blast took place around 11pm on Friday, and the three bodies were found at three different locations within a radius of three kilometres from the house. The cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained and further investigation is underway,” a police officer said.

The incident triggered a political slugfest in the state, where panchayat elections are due early next year.

Soon after the blast, opposition BJP alleged that countrymade bombs were being prepared at the TMC’S home. “Only bomb-making industry is flourishing in the state,” BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh said.

Senior CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also questioned why chief minister Mamata Banerjee was silent on such incidents and demanded a statement from her.

The TMC, however, brushed aside the allegations saying that the blast has nothing to do with the party.