Gas balloon device blast at civic volunteer’s home leaves 1 dead
Times of India | 11 November 2024
12 Birbhum: One person was killed on Sunday in a blast at the home of a civic volunteer posted at Saithia police station, prompting sporadic protests.
The deceased was identified as Bipadtaran Bagdi, a resident of Binse village near Birbhum's Saithia. As the news spread, an agitated crowd gathered and ransacked the civic volunteer's house. Police went to the spot to bring the situation under control.
The villagers alleged that civic volunteer Durgaprasad Bhattacharya recently began an illegal gas balloon business. Bagdi, who was Bhattacharya's neighbour, helped him fill the balloons. Locals claimed neither had the skills nor licence to run such a business.
According to sources, Bhattacharya called Bagdi to his house on Sunday afternoon for work. As Bagdi was filling one of the balloons with gas, the deflation device burst, causing an explosion. The doors and windows of the house were blown away in the intensity of the blast. Bagdi died on the spot; police faced the ire of locals when they tried to retrieve the body. His widow Namita Bagdi demanded that Bhattacharya give the family compensation.
Birbhum ASP Parag Ghosh said: "Per the initial report, the civic volunteer and the deceased used to run a business of selling gas balloons in villages. The accident happened when the deceased was filling balloons. Our officers have started an investigation. The civic volunteer will be interrogated."