kolkata

Updated: Oct 02, 2018 20:18 IST

Kolkata A crude bomb explosion at the crowded marketplace in Dum Dum Tuesday morning killed a seven-year-old boy and injured nine others, and triggering a war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Trinamool Congress.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed the blast was caused by a bomb of low intensity,” said Rajesh Kumar Singh, commissioner of Barrackpore Police.

A child, Bibhas Ghosh died at SSKM Hospital, said Purnendu Bose, minister of technical education and local MLA. The child’s mother, who was also injured, is being treated at the same hospital.

The explosion that took place around 9:15 am was so strong that it shattered the glassepanes of adjoining buildings. A shutter near the site was partially mangled by the impact of the explosion. The injured were taken to state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, SSKM Hospital and a local private hospital.

“The incident was planned... At this time, Trinamool Congress leaders and workers assemble at the ward office here. It appeared to me that it cannot be done by the CPI(M) or Congress...The only needle of suspicion points towards the BJP, with whom CPI(M) and Congress may have links,” Bose alleged.

Pachu Roy, chairman of South Dumdum municipality, indicated it might be the handiwork of the saffron camp.

“Today is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. I won’t be surprised if those who killed him have a role behind this incident. Dumdum is an old centre of their activity,” alleged Roy.

The BJP rubbished the claims amde by TMC.

“Blasts are taking place close to the Trinamool offices. The ruling party offices have become the den of anti-socials. Be it in Khagragarh, West Midnapore, Birbhum or Dumdum, all explosions are taking place inside or close to Trinamool offices. It’s ridiculous that ruling party leaders are blaming the BJP,” said Dilip Ghosh, chief of the BJP’s Bengal unit.

The Left too blamed the TMC for the blast. “The current regime has turned life in the entire city in a nightmare. Bridges are collapsing, markets are gutted and explosions are taking place that killed an innocent child. The Trinamool leaders are alleging they were the real targets of the blast. Let me ask, what were the police doing,” remarked Left leader in state assembly Sujan Chakraborty.

The bomb squad of Criminal Investigation Department officers visited the spot and collected samples from the spot including a bag and splinters as part of the investigation.

Initially, locals thought the blast could have been that of an LPG cylinder. Quite a few splinters were available at the spot.

“There was no smell of gunpowder. We are investigating...,” said the police commissioner who rushed to the spot after the explosion.