TMC Leader Sentenced to 10 Years for 2019 Birbhum Blast
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Synopsis
A special NIA court sentenced TMC leader Bablu Mondal and his sons to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the 2019 Birbhum blast, which occurred at Mondal's residence. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each convict.
Key Takeaways
- 10 years of imprisonment for TMC leader Bablu Mondal.
- His two sons are currently absconding.
- Explosion occurred in September 2019.
- No casualties were reported.
- Charges included storing explosives for political intimidation.
Kolkata, Feb 15 (NationPress) A specialized National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Saturday sentenced three individuals linked to the explosion in Gangpur, Birbhum district, West Bengal, which occurred in September 2019, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The convicted trio includes local Trinamool Congress leader Bablu Mondal. His two sons, Mrityunjay Mondal and Niranjan Mondal, who are currently at large, received the same sentence.
Additionally, a fine of Rs 10,000 was imposed on each convict. All three were found guilty by the special court last Thursday.
The explosion occurred at Bablu Mondal's residence in Gangpur on September 20, 2019. The force of the blast was so strong that it completely destroyed the roof and caused the structure to collapse.
Fortunately, there were no casualties as no individuals were present during the incident.
The police initially began the investigation and filed charges against the three suspects, arresting them. However, they later obtained bail, prompting Bablu Mondal's two sons to flee.
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 chargesheet to the NIA special court in September 2022.
The chargesheet indicated that substantial explosive materials were stored at Bablu Mondal's home to instigate political fear in the region. A total of 28 witnesses provided statements during the trial at the NIA court.
Birbhum district has frequently made headlines for the recovery of explosive materials over time.
