West Bengal: Individuals Found Guilty in 2019 Birbhum Explosion
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Synopsis
A special NIA court in Kolkata convicted three individuals, including a local Trinamool Congress leader, for their involvement in a 2019 explosion in Gangpur, Birbhum district, West Bengal. Sentencing is expected this week under the Explosive Substance Act.
Key Takeaways
- The NIA court convicted three individuals in connection with a 2019 blast.
- Bablu Mondal, a local political leader, is among the convicted.
- The explosion caused significant damage but no casualties.
- Extensive investigations have revealed large stockpiles of explosives.
- Birbhum district has a history of explosive recoveries due to stone quarries.
Kolkata, Feb 13 (NationPress) A specialized court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced the conviction of three individuals related to the explosion that occurred in Gangpur, Birbhum district of West Bengal in September 2019.
The convicted individuals include local Trinamool Congress leader Bablu Mondal. His two sons, Mrityunjay Mondal and Niranjan Mondal, who are currently evading capture, have also been found guilty.
The NIA court is expected to deliver the sentencing later this week. Reports indicate that the three individuals are facing charges under Section 3 and Section 5 of the Explosive Substance Act, which carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment.
The explosion transpired at Bablu Mondal's home in Gangpur on September 20, 2019. The force of the blast was so powerful that it completely destroyed the roof and caused the building to collapse.
Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities, as the residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
Initially, the police commenced an investigation, filing charges against the three accused and apprehending them. All three were later granted bail, leading to the two sons of Bablu Mondal going into hiding.
Subsequently, the NIA took over the investigation following a directive from the Calcutta High Court and re-arrested Bablu Mondal. The central agency submitted a formal chargesheet to the NIA special court in September 2022.
The chargesheet indicated that a significant quantity of explosive materials was stored at Bablu Mondal's property, intended to instill political fear in the region.
Birbhum district has frequently made headlines due to the discovery of explosive materials.
Just this week, local police uncovered 320 sacks containing 16,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate from a truck in Rampurhat.
Last month, the police in West Bengal seized 20,000 detonators and 15,000 gelatine sticks from an abandoned structure in a jungle area of Rampurhat.
Illegal recoveries of detonators and gelatine sticks are quite prevalent in Birbhum district, attributed to the numerous stone quarries in the area where such explosives are utilized for stone blasting.
To highlight, massive quantities of explosives, including 81,000 detonators, 27 kg of ammonium nitrate, and 1,925 kilograms of gelatine sticks, were confiscated in the Muhammadbazar area of Birbhum district on June 30, 2022.
