Hours Before Vote Counting, 'Bomb' Blast Rocks Bengal's North Kashipur

Five individuals suffered severe injuries in a crude bomb blast in Chaltaberia village. The blast is believed to have occurred during the making of crude bombs.

Kashipur in Bengal was rocked by a blast hours before the vote counting. ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

As many as five people were grievously injured in a suspected crude bomb blast in Chaltaberia village in Bengal's North Kashipur, Block 2, Bhangar, on Monday night. Police suspect that the blast occurred by accident at a crude bomb-making unit in the area. One of the injured is an ISF panchayat member. All the five people injured in the blast were taken to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.

Sources said the bomb-making equipment is still lying at the spot of the blast.

#BREAKING | बंगाल में बम बनाते वक्त विस्फोट की खबर, 5 लोग घायल@romanaisarkhan | @akhileshanandd@manogyaloiwal | https://t.co/smwhXURgtc

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— ABP News (@ABPNews) June 4, 2024

The explosion rocked the North Kashipur area barely hours before the start of the vote counting. The Kashipur region saw one of the most intense poll campaigning in Bengal. Bhangad saw violence even during the polling. 

According hospital sources ABP Ananda spoke to, all the 5 injured people, aged 25-35 years were ISF supporters. They sustained 30%-50% burns. One of the injured is in critical condition. Doctors are unsure of the nature of the burns. Sources said the burn injuries could have been sustained in a fire as well.

The blast occurred around an hour after midnight and the injured were taken to the hospital around 3 AM.

Section 144 Imposed In Sandeshkhali

Due to a fresh spurt of unrest, Section 144 was imposed in Sandeshkhali. The curbs were again issued in Sandeshkhali on the morning of the counting day, June 4. The Section 144 restrictions have been imposed in 20 areas of 6 gram panchayats under Sandeshkhali's Nazat Block 1. 

Sandeshkhali was the most burning poll issue in Bengal due to allegations of sexual harassment and land grabbing against now-suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan. The allegations sparked widespread protests and violence in the region. The BJP, quickly capitalised on the issue and fielded one of the purported victims of the violence, Rekha Patra, as its Lok Sabha polls candidate from the Basirhat seat, which covers the Sandeshkhali assembly segment. The TMC has fielded former MP from the region and incumbent Haroa MLA Haji Nurul Islam.