Bombs 'Hurled' Outside BJP MP's Residence in Bengal; Governor Says 'Worrisome'

BJP MP Arjun Singh was in Delhi when the incident took place.

(Photo: Video screengrab)

At least three crude bombs were purportedly hurled outside the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Arjun Singh at Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district near Kolkata early on Wednesday, 8 September.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh accused the ruling Trinamool Congress for the attack and said, "The (state) government has arrived at the door with a bomb. Now, we have to do something in self-defence. Two months ago, a person in Nabanna was given the responsibility to have me killed."

The incident took place when Singh was in Delhi, with bike-borne miscreants allegedly hurling the bombs at the entrance gate.

No injuries have been reported so far, but a case has been filed against unknown people.

The DC (North) of Barrackpore Police, Srihari Pandey stated that an enquiry revealed that 6-7 people came out of Mazdoor Bhawan, thrashed a boy and went inside the building.

"The boy then came with some people and hurled bombs at the Bhawan gate," Pandey stated, adding that two persons have been detained in the matter and are being interrogated.

Singh, who was previously a member of the TMC, switched to BJP in 2019 and was elected MP from the Barrackpore parliamentary constituency.

'Worrisome': Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar reacted to the incident, saying the "bomb explosions" are "worrisome on law and order". "Wanton violence in WB shows no sign of abating," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh has also accused the Trinamool Congress of having links with the assailants, NDTV reported. In response, the TMC has alleged that the attack was owing to an intra-party feud in the BJP.

BJP-TMC Clash

Ever since the West Bengal assembly polls, tensions between the TMC and BJP have escalated with the Narendra Modi-led party accusing TMC of unleashing post-poll violence against the party.

At least 16 people were killed in the violence in West Bengal, as political clashes erupted in the state following the announcement of Assembly polls results on 2 May.

After Singh's switch to the BJP in 2019, pockets of Barrackpore such as Kankinara, Bhatpara, Naihati, Halishahar and Bijpur have been volatile, with reports of spasms of political skirmishes and deteriorating law and order.

In October 2020, Singh’s associate Manish Shukla was shot dead in Titagarh, The Indian Express reported.