3 killed, 2 injured in blast at TMC leader’s home

In the early hours of Saturday, there was an explosion at the home of a local Trinamool Congress TMC leader in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district. Three people -- including local TMC leader Rajkumar Manna -- were killed in the incident, while two others were hurt. The house was damaged due to the explosion.

The incident took place in Purba Medinipur's Bhagabanpur region hours before TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's public event in the district's Contai area, Suvendu Adhikari's hometown.

Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, claimed that TMC leader Rajkumar Manna was making bombs at his home when a powerful explosion occurred there, alleging TMC's involvement in the incident. Three dead and 2 others injured as TMC Leader's house blows up in an explosion at Bhupatinagar, Bhagabanpur ii Block, Purba Medinipur District. TMC Booth Presiden Rajkumar Manna was making bombs at his home when this high-intensity explosion happened, Adhikari tweeted.

Debkumar Manna, Rajkumar's cousin and Biswajit Gayen were killed in the explosion.

Rabindranath Maiti, a local BJP legislator from the Bhagabanpur assembly district, claimed that the explosion occurred due to explosives kept on hand at Manna's home that were intended for use in making crude bombs.

There is an attempt by the local administration to hush up the entire incident, Maiti alleged.

Kunal Ghosh, the state secretary and spokesperson for TMC, refuted the accusations and claimed that local BJP activists were behind the explosion, which they allegedly carried out to incite unrest prior to Abhishek Banerjee's rally.

The BJP has tried to create tension in the area for the last few days. Their leaders, escorted by the Central armed forces personnel, were trying to bring explosives into the area, Ghosh said.

The West Bengal Panchayat elections are scheduled to take place in early 2023.