Three DIB personnel injured as gang hurls bomb inside park

Three personnel, belonging to District Intelligence Bureau (DIB) of West Bengal Police, were seriously injured in a crude bomb attack by bike-borne miscreants at a crowded park, having a number of women and children inside, at Chandernagore in Hooghly district this afternoon.

A police officer said the three DIB men in plain clothes, who were patrolling the popular hangout riverside zone along the Ganga river on a holiday, were attacked as they asked the three bikers, speeding along the pathways in the crowded zone, to slow down. As three crude bombs went off in close succession, and the three cops fell to the ground, the crowd of holidayers on Guru Nanak Birthday scampered to get out, eyewitnesses said.

Many women and children were among the crowd but prompt action by the park employees and local policemen ensured there was no stampede.

The three injured personnel were taken to hospital with blood oozing out and were now stable, the officer said, adding the bikers escaped in the ensuing confusion.

While the Mayor of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation, the heritage town over 40 km from Kolkata famous for its French connections and the unique annual Jagaddhatri Puja festival, termed it as unprecedented in the peace-loving city, the opposition parties alleged worsening law and order in the area.

SP Praveen Tripathy could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.