Eight dead, two critical after bomb battle between groups

Eight persons were killed in an explosion when they were making bombs amidst gang war to gain control over "illegal sand mining" at Labhpur in Birbhum on Friday morning.

The area was tensed since Thursday night as members of rival groups engaged in a scuffle that led to brickbating and finally ended bombs being hurled at Darbarpur village.

Local people claimed that illegal mining is still rampant in the area which is the source of money for local goons. Since the goons earn easy cash out of it, none of the groups are ready to leave any space for their rivals. Often the rival groups in the area engage in clashes over dominion of the areas. But the situation on Friday morning took a worse turn when eight persons were killed while making bombs.

However, senior police officers of the district claimed that it was not an outcome of any gang war between two rival groups for gaining control over the area. Rather, the people were killed when they were making bombs with a purpose to attack someone.

According to sources, there was tension in the village since Thursday night but the situation turned worse this morning when miscreants started hurling bombs at each other. They hurled bombs in front of a school in the area that was closed on Friday.

A large contingent of police was pressed into action when the incident came to light and 10 persons were found writhing in pain with burn injuries all over their bodies. They were taken to a hospital where four persons succumbed to their injuries within half-an-hour. Rest four of the injured persons later died in the hospital and two are still fighting for their lives.

Police pickets have been posted in the village to avoid further deterioration of the law and order situation in the area.

The district administration is also trying to ascertain that how illegal mining of sand is being carried out when online auctioning of sand mines have already been introduced.