The Calcutta High Court has issued a directive to the West Bengal government to produce a detailed report concerning an alleged bomb blast that occurred during the cooperative society body elections in Purba Medinipur district. The incident, which took place on December 8 last year, reportedly resulted in injuries and has since spurred calls for a thorough investigation.
Justice Jay Sengupta expressed dissatisfaction with the state government’s failure to submit a report as previously ordered by the court. In response, he mandated that an affidavit be filed by January 7, ahead of the next hearing.
During the court session, the state’s attorney argued that no individuals sustained splinter injuries from the blast, a claim that was contested by the petitioner’s counsel. The clash during which the alleged blast occurred has already prompted district police to initiate a suo motu case. However, the petitioner, dissatisfied with the local police’s handling of the situation, has urged for the investigation to be transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The petitioner’s lawyer also highlighted that the relevant charges under the Explosives Substances Act had not been included in the police case.
