Panihati Bomb Attack: 5 BJP Workers Critical After Bike Gang Assault

A brazen bomb attack by bike-riding thugs targeted BJP workers in Panihati, North 24 Parganas, injuring five severely and heightening fears of escalating political retribution in West Bengal. The late-night strike on Datta Road, Ward No. 2, Panihati Municipality, followed closely on the heels of Suvendu Adhikari's aide's murder in Khardaha, amplifying concerns over coordinated assaults. Details emerged that BJP activists were in casual discussions with residents when assailants on two-wheelers pulled up. Four men allegedly lobbed three country-made bombs, injuring the victims critically before fleeing. The wounded were admitted to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where doctors battle to stabilize them. Panic spread through the locality, drawing Khardaha police and central forces to the site. Enhanced security measures, including constant vigilance and CCTV analysis, are underway to nab the attackers. In a pointed critique, Suvendu Adhikari slammed the state's governance as 15 years of vengeful disorder, citing the Panihati bombing alongside Khardaha violence and Basirhat gunfire on BJP members. 'Culprits won't escape,' he vowed. BJP points fingers at TMC-affiliated criminals, underscoring the 7-km gap between sites. No comment from TMC yet. Post May 4 election results, Bengal has witnessed a surge in clashes: office ransackings, poster tearings, and assaults on activists from rival camps. Police commit to firm legal action, yet the cycle of violence underscores deepening political divides.