BARRACKPORE: Three bombs were lobbed at Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh’s Majdoor Bhawan residence in Bhatpara early on Wednesday with one of them exploding close to the bunker set up by central forces. While the BJP leader was in Delhi, his family members were inside the premises. However, no one was injured. Police have arrested two persons.
Singh said he had spoken to Union home minister Amit Shah about it and squarely blamed Trinamool Congress for the attack, which he also linked to his new task to oversee the upcoming Bhowanipore bypoll on behalf of his party. Trinamool countered the allegations, blamed BJP “infighting” and said Singh was no stranger to “bombs and bullets”.
The MP’s residence at Bhatpara’s Meghna More is guarded by CRPF personnel round the clock. The explosion, which took place around 6.30am, did visible damage to the iron main gate, right next to the paramilitary post. Witnesses reportedly saw three men on a bike carrying out the attack.
DCP (North), Barrackpore Commissionerate, Shrihari Pandey said police had scanned security camera footage. “The CCTV cameras show some people coming out of Majdoor Bhawan and beating up a boy seated at a nearby tea stall. The boy later returns with some men who hurl bombs at the Bhawan gate. Two local youths have been arrested,” Pandey added.
On his way back from Delhi in the afternoon, MP Singh said this was the 11th time since the last assembly polls that his home had been targeted. “I was anticipating an attack because I have been assigned the responsibility of being an observer for the Bhowanipore by-election. Trinamool leaders are trying to terrorise me. I spoke to Union home minister Amit Shah regarding the incident. Let’s see what can be done,” he said.
Trinamool’s Jagaddal MLA Somenath Shyam rubbished the MP’s allegations and said: “The bombing was the fallout of a feud between two BJP factions. No Trinamool supporter was involved.” State party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh echoed the MLA. “The BJP may have some internal problems and it (the attack) may be the result of infighting. Arjun Singh has a long relationship with bombs and bullets. Police will find out which faction hurled the bombs,” Ghosh said.
Reacting to the incident, governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said “wanton violence” in Bengal was showing no signs of abatement. BJP MLA from Nandigram and leader of the opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari said the attack would in no way intimidate Singh.
