Kolkata: Panic spread across the Paikpara area in North Kolkata early Saturday morning after multiple explosions ripped through the abandoned tin-roofed Yubashakti Club building.
The blasts triggered a fire in the structure, prompting immediate action by the police and fire brigade, who managed to bring the situation under control.
Authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incident. However, the explosions created fear among residents in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood. Police quickly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blasts and the possible motive behind the incident.
According to sources in the Kolkata Police, at least five crude bombs were recovered from the deserted clubroom following the explosions. Investigators are now examining whether the building had been used as a storage site for explosives ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.
The police bomb squad and sniffer dogs were deployed to thoroughly inspect the blast site and search for additional explosive materials. Officers carried out detailed checks inside and around the building to ensure there were no further threats to public safety.
Officials said the abandoned club structure appeared to have been unused for several months, which may have allowed miscreants to use it as a hideout or storage location without attracting attention.
Local residents said the club building had remained closed for a long time and had often been used by anti-social elements, particularly after dark.
One resident said the deserted premises had frequently been visited by groups of individuals who gathered there to drink alcohol late at night. According to locals, they had repeatedly asked such people to leave and had also informed the police on several occasions.
Another resident said the rear wall of the club had a large opening, which may have allowed anti-social elements to enter the building easily without being noticed. Residents described the incident as alarming, noting that the locality has generally been peaceful.
Some residents have demanded the installation of CCTV cameras and more frequent police patrols to improve safety in the area. Many said the explosions have left them worried about security in their neighbourhood.
Tarun Saha, Chairman of Borough 1 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, said the incident was unprecedented in the area. He noted that nothing similar had occurred there in the past three decades.
Saha said the police had been informed immediately after the blasts and were conducting a detailed investigation. He also pointed out that the locality had experienced law-and-order challenges during the Naxalite period in the past, but such incidents had not been reported in recent years.
The incident has triggered political reactions as well, with opposition leaders criticising the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over alleged law-and-order issues.
Former state BJP president Rahul Sinha alleged that explosives were often stockpiled before elections in the state and called for the Election Commission of India to investigate the matter.
BJP Member of Parliament Sukanta Majumdar also accused the ruling party of encouraging such activities, claiming that some clubs receiving funds for cultural events were being misused for illegal purposes.
The ruling party has not yet issued an official response to the allegations. Meanwhile, the police have emphasised that the investigation is ongoing and that conclusions will be drawn only after examining all evidence.
The blasts at the abandoned club building have raised serious concerns about security and the possible misuse of deserted structures in urban areas. With the West Bengal Assembly elections expected to be announced in the coming weeks, authorities are likely to intensify surveillance and preventive measures to ensure public safety and maintain law and order.