Probe ordered into Bengal blast

Amid allegations that standard operating procedures were not followed while defusing bombs at an explosion site in West Bengal's Malda district which killed two members of a bomb disposal squad, police on Tuesday said a probe has been ordered into the incident.

The explosion occurred on Sunday night inside a house where crude bombs were allegedly made and stored in Baishnabnagar area of the district, killing four people.

On Monday, two CID personnel were killed and another was critically injured when a bomb exploded while they were trying to defuse it.

While police initially claimed only one officer was killed, they later confirmed the death of the second personnel.

Additional Director General (CID) Ram Phal Pawar visited the site on Tuesday and said a probe has been initiated.

Family members of Bishudanand Mishra and Subrata Chowdhury, the two CID personnel, blamed the district police top brass for the incident.

"They were not even given time to wear protective suits and forced to defuse the bombs without any kind of protection. My brother would have been alive had he been allowed to wear the protective suit," said Chowdhury's brother.

Meanwhile, the condition of the third officer, Manirulzaman, is said to be critical.

He was shifted to the city's SSKM Hospital, where a doctor said the officer sustained injuries to his face including his eyes.

--IANS

and/ssp/pm/