Cop, TMC workers killed in Malda explosion

MALDA: In the rerun of past incidents at Alipurduar and Nanoor, two CID officials were killed and another was critically injured while defusing crude bombs in Malda's Baishnabnagar on Monday. The cops were part of a bomb disposal squad that had been summoned to defuse an arsenal that had already claimed four lives, including a Trinamool Congress gram panchayat member, on Sunday night.
A huge explosion after midnight on Sunday shattered the tranquillity of Jainpur village under Baishnabnagar police station. Startled, the villagers rushed out of their homes to find smoke snaking out of a house that had turned into rubble.
The under-construction house belonged to Giyasuddin Sk where miscreants were making crude bombs. On Sunday night, one of the bombs had blown up, igniting several others. The intensity of the blasts was such that four persons had died on the spot and several others were injured.
Among the dead was Kalam Sk (45), a member of the Trinamool controlled Kumbhira panchayat. The other three killed - Israil Sk, Simu Sk and Suku Sk - are also Trinamool workers. They were aged around 30-32 years. Saddam Hossain and Alam Sk were among six wounded who were admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital. Police super Waqar Reza said the case was being probed.
Conceding that Kalam was a party member, district Trinamool chief Moyajjem Hossain made a feeble attempt to paint it as a family strife.
Locals, however, pointed to a political rivalry between Motihaji family and Gajlu family in the village. Members of Motihaji family had supported Congress in the election while Gajlu family members backed Trinamool. Differences between the two families flared up after the polls. There is allegation that bombs were being made by the Gajlus to attack the Motihajis. In fact, all the victims of the explosion belonged to the Gajlu family.
When police found several live bombs in the building that had collapsed in parts, the bomb disposal squad of CID was summoned. The team reached the spot around 12.30 pm and began to defuse the bombs. They were still at work around 2 pm when another explosion occurred, injuring three officers.
Profusely bleeding, sub-inspectors Bishudananda Mishra and Md Maniruzzaman and constable Subrata Choudhury were rushed to Bedrabad hospital before being referred to Malda Medical College. Mishra and Choudhury succumbed to injuries near Farakka while being transferred to Kolkata.