Bomb found near BJP leader’s home in Bengal's Bhatarpara amid ongoing tensions and assassination plot allegations

Tensions in Bhatarpara, North 24 Parganas, intensified after a bomb was discovered near the residence of BJP leader Priyangu Pandey on Tuesday, alarming local residents and prompting a swift police response. The explosive device was spotted on the road in Gali Number Six, leading residents to immediately inform law enforcement. Police units quickly secured the area, and the bomb squad was dispatched to safely defuse the device, ensuring no immediate threat to the public.

Priyangu Pandey has publicly accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of orchestrating the bomb placement as part of a broader assassination plot against him. This assertion comes amid rising political tensions in West Bengal, particularly following an incident on August 28, when Pandey’s vehicle was attacked with gunfire and explosives during a statewide shutdown called by the BJP to protest against the state government. The assault on his vehicle raised significant concerns regarding the safety of political figures in the region, highlighting the escalating violence between rival parties.

Compounding the situation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had conducted a visit to Bhatarpara just one day before the bomb was found, investigating the earlier attack on Pandey’s vehicle. The proximity of the bomb discovery to the NIA's visit has raised questions about the effectiveness of ongoing security measures and investigations in the area. Pandey has voiced his frustration with local law enforcement, claiming that they have failed to properly investigate the earlier attacks, thereby leaving him vulnerable to further threats. He has called for a comprehensive investigation by the NIA into both the previous incident and the recent bomb discovery.

In response to Pandey's allegations, Amit Sav, the youth president of the TMC in Bhatarpara, dismissed the claims, asserting that the BJP may be attempting to create panic within the community. He noted that this incident marks the third occurrence of explosive devices being found near Pandey's home, suggesting a troubling trend rather than a targeted attack from his party. As political accusations continue to fly, local police have heightened security measures in the vicinity, conducting patrols and monitoring the area to ensure public safety amid the ongoing investigations.