A tragic incident marred the counting day of the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll in West Bengal’s Nadia district, as a young girl lost her life in a bomb blast on Monday. The explosion occurred in Barochandgar village, under the Kaliganj police station limits, just as the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) was celebrating a sweeping victory in the bypoll. The victim, identified as Tamanna Khatun, was a Class 4 student, reportedly aged between nine and thirteen, according to varying local reports.

The blast took place in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the community and triggering panic. Residents described hearing a loud explosion and witnessing chaos as people ran for cover. Tamanna was near the site of the blast, allegedly on her way to bathe in a nearby pond with her mother, when she was fatally injured. She succumbed to her injuries soon after and her body was sent for post-mortem examination.

Police sources said the explosion was caused by a crude bomb. The incident happened while TMC workers were reportedly holding a victory procession to celebrate their candidate Alifa Ahmed’s win in the bypoll, which saw her secure a massive margin over her rivals. Unverified reports and local allegations suggest that the bomb was hurled during the celebrations, possibly targeting the house of a CPI(M) supporter, with one device detonating dangerously close to the girl.

Political Overtones

The tragedy immediately took on political overtones. Leaders from the opposition, including the BJP and CPI(M), accused the ruling party of fostering a climate of violence. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya directly blamed the TMC, alleging that the party’s celebrations had turned deadly and that such violence had become routine in Bengal’s elections. The girl’s family was said to be supporters of the Left, with her mother claiming their home was targeted because of their political affiliation.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep grief and shock at the incident, assuring the public that police would take strict legal action against those responsible. She posted on X, “I am shocked and deeply saddened at the death of a young girl in an explosion at Barochandgar. My prayers and thoughts are with the family in their hour of grief. Police shall take strong and decisive legal action against the culprits at the earliest”. The West Bengal Police echoed this, stating that raids were underway and that no effort would be spared to bring the culprits to justice.

I am shocked and deeply saddened at the death of a young girl in an explosion at Barochandgar in Krishnanagar police district. My prayers and thoughts are with the family in their hour of grief.

Police shall take strong and decisive legal action against the culprits at the…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 23, 2025

The Election Commission has sought a detailed report on the incident, while police investigations continue. One person has reportedly been detained for questioning, but the motive and full circumstances are still under probe. The violence has reignited concerns about the persistence of political clashes and the use of crude bombs in Bengal’s electoral contests, even during what should be peaceful celebrations.

The bypoll itself was necessitated by the death of the sitting TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed. His daughter, Alifa Ahmed, retained the seat for the party with a substantial margin, but the victory celebrations were overshadowed by the tragic loss of a young life.