Kolkata, 19 August (H.S.):

The probe into the Madhyamgram bomb blast has taken a new turn with police revealing that the deceased, identified as Sachidanand Mishra, may have traveled from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal to meet his girlfriend.

Barasat district superintendent of police, Pratiksha Jharkharia, informed that the victim’s Instagram profile hinted at a romantic relationship with a local woman from Madhyamgram. Preliminary investigations suggest that this could be the reason behind his visit. A senior officer confirmed on Tuesday that the woman lives opposite a school campus in Madhyamgram and has been called in for questioning.

The powerful explosion occurred late Sunday night near the Rabindra Mukta Mancha area, adjacent to Madhyamgram Boys’ School. The blast was so intense that Mishra’s left hand and one leg were severed, leaving his body severely mutilated. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries early Monday morning.

Investigators suspect that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used in the blast. Forensic teams believe the device may have gone off accidentally when pressure was applied on an electronic component found in the victim’s bag. Samples have been collected, and the exact nature of the explosives will be confirmed after laboratory tests.

Given the gravity of the case, both the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have joined the probe.

Mishra hailed from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh and was employed at a glass factory in Haryana. He reportedly had little contact with his family, who were unaware of his trip to West Bengal. The autopsy of the body is scheduled for Tuesday, which is expected to provide further clarity in the case.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh