Eight-year-old boy killed and nine persons were injured in crude bomb blast n West Bengal

An eight-year-old boy was killed and at least nine persons were injured in a crude bomb blast in Dumdum in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday, police said.

The blast, which took place around 9 a.m., ripped through adjacent shops, shattered windowpanes of nearby houses and damaged the pedestrian walk, eyewitnesses said.

"A large explosion took place outside a shop in Nagerbazar area today morning. According to the probe so far, low-intensity socket bombs were used in the blast," Barrackpore Police Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Singh said.

"More explosives were used to magnify the effects of the low-intensity crude bombs -- parts of which ricocheted off the concrete floor and hit a terrace causing the impact of the blast to be double.

"Bibhash Gosh, an eight-year-old kid, who was injured in the blast, has succumbed at the hospital," he said.

According to the officer, the bomb exploding on the solid surface created a tremor which caused the glass window panes of the adjacent multi-storied buildings to shatter.

"We are investigating the matter. The bomb squad of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has visited the spot. Several items including a bag have been seized from the spot and sent for forensic tests. We are still finding out the kind of explosives used in the bomb," he added.

According to police, at least nine others, including a woman sustained injuries and have been admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital.

Trinamool Congress leader and Chairman of South Dumdum municipality Panchu Gopal Roy said the blast was targeted at him.

"I think they tried to target me. Today is October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. We all know which group was involved in Gandhiji's killing. I will not be surprised if that same group was involved in this blast," he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)