Child killed, many hurt as bomb explodes Kolkata’s Dum Dum area

Kolkata, Oct 2: An eight-year-old child was killed and many others were injured as a socket bomb exploded in Kolkata’s Dum Dum area on Tuesday, police said.

According to reports the bomb exploded in front of a multi-storey building in Nagerbazar area in Kolkata’s northeast suburb. The police said that the explosion took place outside a fruit shop on the ground floor of the building in the congested Kazipara area around 9 am.

Those injured in the blast were taken to R G Kar Medical College and Hospital where one eight-year-old child succumbed to the injuries. Forensic team and sniffer dogs were sent to the spot to conduct further investigations.

A senior officer of Barrackpore City Police Commissionerate said, “Initially, we thought it was a gas cylinder blast. But it is not so. We are trying to find out the details. Forensic experts, along with the CID bomb disposal squad, are examining the area.”

Another police officer said, “It was a high-intensity blast. Found some iron nails but can’t ascertain the cause of blast yet as there is no smell of gunpowder.”

The NIA has reportedly sought details of the blast from the state CID.

The building in front of which the explosion took place also have the office of South Dum Dum Municipality Chairman Panchu Roy, who asserted that he was the actual target of the blast.