The incident, triggered by a crude bomb, has fueled tensions between political parties ahead of the upcoming panchayat polls, with accusations and counter-accusations being exchanged.
In a tragic incident on Saturday, a mango orchard in West Bengal's Murshibabad district became the site of a deadly explosion caused by a crude bomb. The blast resulted in the loss of one life and left three individuals injured, according to local authorities.
The critically injured victim, identified as Alim Sheikh (26) from Kapasdanga village in Beldanga, was urgently taken to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The three other injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment at the same hospital, as confirmed by the police, as PTI reported.
Authorities revealed that Alim Sheikh had a criminal record, categorizing him as a history-sheeter. Meanwhile, another clash between Trinamool and Congress activists in Raninagar, Murshidabad, resulted in three minor injuries due to the hurling of crude bombs, as reported by the police.
These incidents have sparked a verbal confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. Both the BJP and the Congress have accused the Trinamool party of employing criminals to manufacture crude bombs, with the intention of instilling fear among the population leading up to the panchayat polls scheduled for July 8.
Dilip Ghosh, the national vice-president of the BJP, expressed his concern, stating that these events expose the TMC's underlying strategy to intimidate opposition candidates and discourage their supporters from participating in the upcoming elections. Similarly, WBPCC president and Berhampore MP Adhir Choudhury criticized the local police for their alleged inaction against Trinamool leaders, claiming that miscreants sheltered by the TMC are orchestrating the creation of explosives to sow unrest ahead of the rural polls.
However, TMC state spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar refuted these accusations, highlighting that since the party came into power in 2011, the number of deaths and injuries resulting from such incidents has significantly declined. Majumdar dismissed any evidence connecting TMC to the Beldanga incident, accusing the opposition of spreading baseless allegations against the ruling party. In a counter-accusation, he pointed fingers at the BJP and Congress, claiming that they are engaging troublemakers to manufacture bombs, intending to create disturbances and tarnish the state's reputation.