State min critically injured in bomb attack

Behrampore: A group of unidentified persons hurled bombs at Trinamool politician and state minister

Jakir Hossain

, critically injuring him, as he was waiting to catch a train to Kolkata late on Wednesday in order to attend a party meeting on Thursday, likely to be addressed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, reports Sukumar Mahato.

The incident occurred around 9.40pm when Hossain, who is the MoS labour and also a businessman, was waiting to board the Teesta Torsa Express at Nimita station, more than 250km from Kolkata in Murshidabad, accompanied by his personal security officer and a few supporters. The train was to arrive in another 15-20 minutes.

Around 9.40, when the train was about 15 minutes away, a group of about two-three people — who were also on the platform — started pelting bombs at the minister before fleeing, taking the minister’s retinue by surprise.

Hossain, who fell down injured, was rushed to a Jangipur hospital, from where he has been referred to Kolkata. The minister, said hospital sources, has suffered serious wounds in his hands and legs. He had to be given 14 stitches to stop the bleeding. “He is being sent to Kolkata for treatment. He had a cardiac procedure some months back,” said a source.

Hossain had reached the station after attending a party meeting in Behrampore to expel Murshidabad zilla parishad sabdhipati, Mosharof Hossein Mandal.

“We suspect an opposition hand in the incident,” said Trinamool district president Abu Taher Khan. “He had left the meeting in the evening and had told us he would later take the train to Kolkata to attend the meeting with the chief minister. We hope the police can trace those responsible and take the strongest possible action,” adding, “It appears there were several assailants who knew he would be at the station.” State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury, also the Behrampore MP, has demanded an “independent probe”.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh raised questions about security in the state, saying, “If a minister isn’t safe in Bengal, how can the common man be safe.”

Jangipur SP Y Raghubanshi said a probe had been started. “We are examining some photographs that some of those accompanying the minister had taken prior to the attack. We have some suspects and are conducting raids,” the officer said.

In another incident in Hariharpara in the same district around the same time, a Trinamool block leader was shot by unidentified men. He is also reported to be serious.