Birbhum: One killed in explosion at Sainthia while inflating balloons

Kolkata: Tension spread at Sainthia in Birbhum district after a man was killed in an explosion while inflating balloons at the residence of a civic volunteer who allegedly used to run his illegal business.

According to sources, the accused civic volunteer of Sainthia police station identified as Durgaprasad Bhattacharya used to run an illegal business of balloons using a gas cylinder for inflating. On Sunday afternoon Bhattacharya had called his neighbour identified as Bipadtaran Bagdi and offered him money for inflating balloons. Bagdi, a mason by profession, agreed to inflate balloons for the money Bhattacharya offered. After inflating a few balloons suddenly the gas cylinder exploded. Due to the explosion Bagdi suffered critical injuries and died on the spot after a while.

Hearing the sound of the explosion neighbours came out from their residences and saw Bagdi lying in a pool of blood. It is alleged that after the explosion Bhattacharya hid himself inside the house. Meanwhile, villagers started agitating in front of the civic volunteer’s house. The violent mob even vandalised Bhattacharya’s house. When police arrived, villagers also agitated against the cops alleging inaction. After a while, when Bhattacharya came out of his house, he was manhandled. Sources reportedly informed that he has been detained. Police have initiated a probe.