One BJP worker died and six others were injured in a bomb blast late on Friday night in the Gosaba area of West Bengal’s South 24 Paraganas district after Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadres allegedly hurled crude bombs at them.
According to sources in the district police, the condition of two among the injured was critical.
Police sources said one among the injured Sobhan Debnath succumbed to his injuries after being brought to the government-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.
The rest of those injured were also brought to the SSKM Hospital.
They also said that the incident took place in the Badamtola area of Gosaba when they were returning home from a marriage ceremony. The injured have been admitted to the Canning Sub Divisional Hospital.
Family members of those injured in the blast alleged that local Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadres hurled bombs at them.
The BJP district leadership also alleged that the TMC cadres were behind the incident. Local TMC leaders denied the allegation.
However, a senior district police official said that “prima-facie it seemed that the blast took place while crude bombs were being made.”
He also said that the statements of the family members of the injured were being recorded and an investigation is going on.
A section of locals came up with a different version of the incident. They said that there was an armed clash between the TMC and the BJP cadres and both sides hurled bombs at each other.
Following the incident, a large police contingent was deployed in the area. Bomb disposal squad and officials of the Forensic Department also reached the spot.
The Gosaba Assembly constituency will go to the polls in the second phase of the Assembly elections on April 1.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks