7 hours ago
Teenager killed by ‘crude bomb hurled during TMC victory rally' in Kaliganj
A 13-year-old girl was killed in an explosion in West Bengal's Kaliganj on Monday, allegedly after a crude bomb was hurled during a Trinamool Congress (TMC) victory rally following the party's bypoll win.
The student was found with an injury on her neck on the verandah of her home in Barochandgar village, an area known to be a Congress-CPM stronghold. She later succumbed.
Residents allege that the bomb was thrown from a TMC victory procession targeting a CPM supporter's house.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and grief over the incident. In a statement, she said: 'I am shocked and deeply saddened at the death of a young girl in an explosion at Barochandgar in Krishnanagar police district. My prayers and thoughts are with the family in their hour of grief. Police shall take strong and decisive legal action against the culprits at the earliest.'
Superintendent of Police, Krishnanagar, K Amarnath, told The Indian Express, 'One person has been detained and an investigation is underway. The body was found on the verandah and has been sent for autopsy.'
A senior police official, on condition of anonymity, said prima facie it appeared to be a crude bomb. 'No splinters were recovered from the site. While it happened during a victory rally, all angles are being investigated,' the official added.
The Election Commission has sought a report on the incident.
The girl's mother blamed the TMC for the attack. 'They had been hurling bombs since morning. Those who did this are from the TMC. We are CPM supporters. My whole family votes for CPM,' she said.
The West Bengal Police, in a statement on social media, said: 'Today, a 13-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries sustained from an explosion in Kaliganj PS area of Krishnanagar police district. We shall spare no effort to nab the culprits behind this extremely unfortunate death. Raids are on in full swing. Our thoughts are with the family.'
The incident has triggered a political row. CPM state secretary Mohammad Selim hit out at the ruling party, questioning the TMC's oft-quoted slogan 'Badla noi, badal chai' (No revenge, we want change), and demanded accountability from its leadership.
'Not speeches, not sweets – bombs were thrown in the name of 'victory' in a bypoll! A minor girl was blown to death even before counting ended in Kaliganj. Only in (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee)'s Bengal can an election celebration look like a terrorist attack! How brutal, how sick, how inhuman do you have to be to throw bombs while kids are on the street?' BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar posted on X.
The by-election in Kaliganj was held following the death of the sitting MLA. TMC candidate Alifa Ahmed won the seat with a substantial margin, results for which were declared earlier in the day.
