Blasts reach Bengal





Blasts reach Bengal. That seems to be the flavor of the season. Timed on the eve of Bakri Eid and close on the heels of Durga Puja, the blasts at Burdwan, a busy town 100 km from Kolkata, shows the consolidation of the Islamic terror mechanism in West Bengal. One might call this view bigoted, but it is probable that the unabated infiltration from Bangladesh has something to do with it.

The place where the blasts took place, and two people died, was housing a bomb-making shelter, as evidenced by the IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and other explosives seized by the police. Literature seized on the spot suggest links with Al Qaeda. Such brazen acts expose the overconfidence that the terror mechanism has acquired in West Bengal.  And it may not be long before Kolkata is rocked by blasts similar to those in Mumbai or Delhi. Given the situation, it is indeed difficult to understand how Kolkata has escaped this for so long, while other metros have been rocked by blasts.

It will be naïve to suggest that RSS or BJP can solve these problems. Godhra shows the element of overreaction that these elements have to these situations. But some firm measures are needed, such as curbs on infiltration from Bangladesh, increased intelligence activities and strong deterrant and punitive actions by the law and order enforcement mechanism.


The question is, will the Mamata Banerjee government be able to rise up to this ? Given the track record, quite unlikely. Indeed , the confusion that the local police created with the NIA ( National Intelligence Agency) only points to the lack of intuition and intelligence among the local forces. Only time will tell whether Burdwan will become just another statistic in Indian Blastdom. Let us at least hope for the best.

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