East Midnapore factory blast: Bomb squad team conducts investigation

East Midnapore (West Bengal) [India], May 17 (ANI): A bomb squad team on Wednesday conducted an investigation at the spot in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district where nine people were killed and several others injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory on Tuesday.

A massive blast took place at the factory in Khadikul village under the Egra police station at around 11 am on Tuesday.

According to the police, the factory was operating illegally and the owner had been arrested last year and a chargesheet was filed. They said that efforts are underway to arrest the accused, identified as Krishnapada Bagh alias Bhanu Bagh.

The West Bengal Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated a probe into the incident and investigation with the help of forensic experts after the State government handed over the case to it.

East Medinipur Superintendent of Police, Amarnath K said, “Till now, 9 bodies have been recovered and efforts are being made to find out if there was any other killed in the incident. Two people seriously injured in this incident have been referred to Kolkata’s SSKM from Egra Super Specialty Hospital.”

“It was an illegal factory. There have been three to four cases against this factory in the past as well. It was raided many times, but the accused kept operating it. Efforts are underway to arrest the accused, identified as Krishnapada Bagh alias Bhanu Bagh,” the SP said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2.5 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those injured.

West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a “comprehensive probe” into the incident. He also said that the probe should be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The locals have alleged that the unit was used to manufacture lethal explosives.

“In this factory, crackers were only made for the show. Lethal explosives were made and supplied outside,” said Jalhosa, a local resident.