Crude bombs seized from Trinamool leader's hotel in Birbhum

Police recovered a large cache of crude bombs during an overnight raid on a hotel near Prantik railway station in Bolpur, Birbhum district, owned by Trinamool Congress leader Babu Das—husband of Ward No. 1 councillor Sangita Das.

Acting on tips, Bolpur SDPO Rickey Agarwal led joint teams from two stations in the operation. Seven people were detained for questioning; owner Babu Das remains absconding. No official TMC response yet. Sources allege bomb assembly on-site, amid prior complaints of prostitution and illegal activities.

A senior officer said: "We conducted a raid and found that crude bombs were stored at the premises. The entire area has been cordoned off and necessary precautions have been taken. The bombs will be defused by the bomb disposal squad. A case has already been registered. The Investigating Officer (IO) will supervise the probe at the spot. We are investigating who is involved in this incident and whether others are connected to it." Further investigation targets links and additional suspects.

State BJP spokesperson Jagannath Chatterjee claimed: "I have heard that the Trinamool Congress leader used to operate party offices from that hotel. There are allegations that he used to terrorise locals in this otherwise peaceful and respectable town. There are complaints that he was involved in extorting money from local residents."

(Inputs from IANS)