Bhubaneswar bomb blast: History-sheeter injured while assembling explosives on rooftop

Bhubaneswar: A history-sheeter and three others were grievously injured when a crude bomb he was allegedly assembling on the terrace of a residential building in Airfield area here exploded on Tuesday, triggering panic in the locality.

Police identified the man as Sehnawaz Malik, 26. “Sehnawaz, his mother and two others were injured. We strongly suspect that he was making bombs with criminal intent. He was previously booked for seven serious offences, including attempted murder and cases under the Arms Act at Nayapalli and Maitri Vihar police stations,” DCP Jagmohan Meena said.


Soon after the blast, bomb disposal and detection squads, fire service personnel and forensic experts rushed to the spot. The teams carried out a thorough investigation, collected remnants of the bomb and seized raw materials suspected to be used in bomb-making from Sehnawaz’s residence.

Police sources said Sehnawaz lived with his family in the rented three-storey building. Based on circumstantial evidence, investigators suspect that all four injured were present on the terrace when the explosion occurred. “It appears that one or two bombs went off while being prepared. The condition of some of the injured is critical,” another officer said.

Three families residing in the same building expressed fear and outrage over the illegal activity. “We were completely unaware of what was happening. The criminals endangered the lives of everyone by making bombs,” a tenant said.

Police registered a case and intensified investigation to trace the source of the materials and possible links to criminal networks. Officials are also probing whether Sehnawaz was working alone or had involved associates in the preparation of explosives. “The blast raised serious concerns about safety in residential areas and the ease with which criminals manage to procure explosives materials. Police must ensure strict surveillance, while residents should remain vigilant to prevent such threats,” Ramakant Tripathy, a retired police officer in the area, said.