Blast mysteries unsolved yet, bandh held

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 28: The mystery behind the blast that occurred last night at Nishiganj is yet to be unveiled. Police started an inquiry into the incident but no headway was found till now. This was the third mysterious explosion in Cooch Behar district in recent past. The first one occurred near New Cooch Behar Railway Station on 8 October 2006. No one was injured in that incident. The second one was occurred near Cooch Behar Railway Station recently (on 14 June). One person was injured in that incident.

 

Last night's blast at Nishiganj left five persons injured who were sent to Nishiganj Primary Health Centre soon after the incident. Condition of two them turned serious and they were shifted to MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar. Police are yet to resolve the mysteries behind all these three incidents.

 

Mathabhanga Police claimed today that they got some clues in connection with yesterday's blast that was occurred in front of a roadside fruit shop. They believe that the blast was not a massive one. After primary investigation they learnt that it was merely a country-made hand-bomb that was either hurled towards the fruit shop during a power cut or it was hidden in a fruit box that exploded at about 8-45 p.m. When asked, Mathabhanga SDPO Mr Ananda Roy hoped that they would be able to reveal the actual picture very shortly.

 

Cooch Behar ADM (G) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra who visited the spot last night said police already started an inquiry to find out the reasons behind the incident.

 

Yesterday's blast at Nishiganj was able to add an extra dimension because it was occurred during the 24-hour bandh called by Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) that started on yesterday morning.

 

A 12-hour bandh was observed at Nishiganj and adjacent areas in Mathabhanga sub-division today. The CPI-M called the bandh in protest against pre-planned designs to disrupt peaceful situation. They also took out a slogan shouting procession in that area demanding arrest of the miscreants involved in the explosion. No untoward incident was reported during today's bandh.

 

Submitting a memorandum to the district magistrate today, Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce (CDMCC) too demanded arrest and punishment of the persons involved in the blast. They also demanded security measures for the marketplaces, general people and businessmen. []