BJP demands NIA probe into Bengal firecracker factory blast

Kolkata: The West Bengal unit of the BJP has called for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the deadly explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas district, which has claimed eight lives. The blast, which occurred on Monday night, has raised doubts about the nature of the facility, with BJP leaders suggesting it may have been a crude bomb manufacturing unit rather than a firecracker factory.

BJP's former national vice-president and ex-Lok Sabha member Dilip Ghosh accused the local police of inaction, despite being aware of the illegal operations at the private residence. Ghosh also linked the incident to potential preparations by the ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of next year’s state Assembly elections, claiming the party’s supporters were running bomb-making operations under the guise of firecracker factories.

Sukanta Majumdar, the BJP's West Bengal president and Union Minister of State, asserted that the Union Home Ministry had been alerted about the situation and requested a central-level investigation. He raised questions about whether the factory was merely producing firecrackers or if it was another bomb-making unit linked to the ruling party. Majumdar also expressed concerns about the growing instability in the state, citing illegal arms and explosives flooding Bengal under the protection of the ruling administration.

The explosion occurred at a house owned by two brothers, Chandrakanta Banik and Tushar Banik, who fled after the blast. The fire caused by the explosion was so intense that it took several hours to extinguish, completely destroying the property. As of the report’s filing, no official statement had been issued by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s office regarding administrative actions or compensation for the victims’ families.

With IANS inputs