Five-year-old among two killed in firecracker bursting, two arrested

Kolkata: A five-year-old boy was among two people killed while bursting crackers in two separate incidents in Kolkata on Sunday night on the occasion of Kali Puja and Diwali. Police have arrested two persons in this connection.

According to police, both the victims had received injuries to their neck and face while bursting tubris (clay flowerpot crackers).

The first incident took place in Shilpara area of Behala in south Kolkata when five-year-old Adi Das was bursting crackers with his parents.

"While lighting a tubri, the clay pot burst and the shrapnel pieces perforated Adi's neck," a police officer said. "He was taken to Vidyasagar Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 8:15 pm," said a senior police official.

Police, which have filed an unnatural death case at Haridevpur police station, have arrested two persons in connection with the death of five-year-old Adi. "One of the arrested persons is a firecracker seller, Borun Roy (36), and the other one is the manufacturer of the tubri, Bijay Sardar (52). Further investigation is on," Deputy Commissioner of Police Nilanjan Biswas said.

Adi's parents and residents of the area had demanded a thorough probe into the matter and action against firecracker sellers and manufacturers. In another incident, 40-year-old Dip Kumar Koley was killed when a tubri he was trying to light exploded. A resident of Kasba area of Kolkata, Koley also died on his way to hospital, said police. He had received serious injuries to his neck and eyes.

Police said that both of the victims suffered immense blood loss due to the impact of the explosions. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, said police.

"Police must take action against people who are responsible for the death. It is their fault to sell defective firecrackers," Paramita Koley, a relative of the victim, said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke with two brothers of Koley, a source close to her said. Mamata has also spoken with Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and instructed him to find out where the flowerpot crackers were procured from, the source said. "The Chief Minister has sought a detailed report on the two deaths," the source added.

(With inputs from India Express)