Kolkata: Nine people died and 13 were critically injured on Tuesday in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory at Egra in East Midnapore district of West Bengal. The building in which the illegal unit was located collapsed because of the impact of the blast, according to villagers and police personnel.
Visuals from the blast site showed parts of bodies lying strewn all around. “The injured have been admitted to hospital,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said and announced a compensation of Rs2.5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs1 lakh each for those who have been injured. Banerjee has instructed the CID to probe the incident.
The explosion has sparked a war of words among political parties.
Amit Shah demands NIA probe
The BJP has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incident. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, too, urged the Governor to initiate an NIA probe and also demanded that central forces be immediately deployed in the area.
‘‘I am receiving news from the ground that the casualties are sizeable. Immediately, central forces should be deployed as dead bodies are being shifted illegally by Mamata Police,” Adhikari tweeted.
Banerjee hits back on Shah's claims
However, Banerjee denied the claims. “Our police had arrested him (the owner of the illegal firecracker unit) in October last year but he got bail. The incident took place near the Bengal-Odisha border and I have heard he has fled to Odisha. I will ask the police to share details with their counterparts in Odisha. Strict action will be taken against him once he is caught,” she said.
Banerjee said that she does not have any problem with an NIA probe as long as the ‘real’ culprits are punished.
Residents of the area alleged that police knew about the illegal firecracker factory but no action was taken to stop it. They also allegedly beat up police personnel who arrived at the scene.
This evoked a sharp reaction from Banerjee. “The police is the custodian of law and strict action will be taken against those who have assaulted them,” she said.
“I have asked Environment Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia and a local MLA to visit the spot but they were not allowed in,” said the chief minister.
