Kolkata:
The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has come under fire for alleged involvement in anti-national activities after an explosion killed two people in Burdwan on Thursday. The CPM and the BJP say the police destroyed evidence before the National Investigation Team (NIA) could reach the spot.
The building where the blast took place - located in Khagragarh area - is owned by a former state government employee who is allegedly a Trinamool supporter. Some Trinamool flags were found stacked in one of the rooms on the ground floor. At one time, the Trinamool had also allegedly used a room in the house as an office.
"A bomb blast took place inside the home of a TMC leader. In that house people of Indian Mujahideen were living. Some substance exploded and after which it was told that NIA should be informed. But NIA was informed 24 hours later. The material which could have been used as the evidence was destroyed in river... Mamata Banerjee should tell that if that home belongs to a TMC leader or not? Why did your SP of Burdwan destroy the evidence?" BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh asked in Delhi.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri said, "The track record of state police in recent years does not augur well. Central government should interfere and act against the guilty."
The Trinamool, denying any links with the blast, claimed the BJP and CPM were conspiring to disturb peace in the state at a sensitive time - the end of the Durga Pujas and the eve of Eid.
"The comments by Biman Bose and the BJP are totally insensitive. The timing too is devious, especially at this juncture when Durga idols are still being immersed and the holy festival of Eid is to be held tomorrow," said Mukul Roy, Trinamool General Secretary.
The owner of the house where the blast occurred has been detained for questioning. Two women who lived as tenants there have been arrested.
Meanwhile, in Kolkata this evening, principal secretary, home, Basudeb Banerjee, denied any RDX or Al Qaeda posters had been found at the blast site. He also denied reports about lack of cooperation between the state police and central agencies investigating the incident.