Mysterious blast rocks busy Kolkata street, ragpicker injured, bomb squad at scene

The blast occurred at around 1:45 PM when the victim, identified as 58-year-old Bapi Das, was “near a plastic bag” at the crossing of Blochmann Street and SN Banerjee Road in central Kolkata.

Kolkata Blast: A 58-year-old ragpicker was injured in a mysterious explosion on a busy street in central Kolkata on Saturday afternoon. According to the police, the blast occurred at around 1:45 PM when the victim, identified as 58-year-old Bapi Das, was “near a plastic bag” at the crossing of Blochmann Street and SN Banerjee Road.

Das, who lives on a footpath beside S N Banerjee Road and collects scrap for a living sustained injuries in his right wrist in the blast and is being treated at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, the police said.

Following the blast, a team of officers from the nearby Taltala Police Station rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area, a senior police official said, adding that a Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was called and is investigation the cause and nature of the explosion.

VIDEO | Rag picker, identified as Bapi Das, injured in blast on SN Banerjee Road in central Kolkata earlier today. More details awaited.

(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/5pohm19FoB

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 14, 2024

“The area was cordoned off and a bomb disposal squad reached the place. They checked the bag and the vicinity,” he said.

The blast resulted in traffic being halted in the area, which was later resumed after the BDDS conducted a thorough inspection of the place and gave their clearance, the officer said, adding that a forensics team has also reached the spot to conduct their investigation into the blast.

BJP attacks Mamata over ‘deteriorating law and order’

Meanwhile, opposition BJP claimed the incident was a clear sign of the failing law and order in West Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime, with Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar calling for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the blast.

“The explosion is of great concern. It should be investigated thoroughly. In particular, I feel that an investigation by NIA is required. I don’t think the police have that kind of professionalism to investigate this incident,” Majumdar said.

The BJP leader said the incident was a glaring example of Bengal’s “deteriorating” law and order under CM Mamata Banerjee who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, and demanded her resignation.

“The incident depicts the failure of Mamata Banerjee as a Home Minister. If this is the condition of law and order in the state, the Home Minister should resign,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)