KOLKATA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued notice to the West Bengal government over the deaths of nine workers in an illegal fireckacers factory blast that happened in West Midnapore's Egra on Tuesday afternoon, said an official.
At least six people were injured in the incident.
The incident happened at 11am in Khadikul village near the Bengal-Odisha border, around 170 km from Kolkata. Witnesses reported hearing the deafening explosion from more than a kilometre away. The roof of the building was completely blown away, and charred and dismembered bodies of the victims landed on roads, trees and ponds several metres from the house.
The factory was allegedly being run by Bhanu Bag, who was out on bail after being arrested in October 2022 for running an illegal firecracker factory.
All of the victims of Tuesday's tragedy were local villagers, who used to work in Bag's factory. They were working when the explosion occurred. According to local sources, the 50-year-old Bag started out as a firecracker worker before gaining control of the illegal industry in the village.
A furious CM Mamata Banerjee had promised to act against the local police for allowing the illegal factory to function. Egra inspector-in-charge Mousam Chakraborty was served a show-cause notice.
Banerjee handed the investigation to the CID, saying she had no objection if the National Investigation Agency (NIA) - India's primary anti-terror investigation task force - took up the case, as demanded by Bengal BJP and CPM. "We have started an investigation. But if they want NIA, we don't have any objection," she said, addressing the press at Nabanna. "We want the real culprits to be arrested and also want to know how the factory was reopened. We want the truth to come out."
(With PTI)
