An officer of Khardah police station suffered splinter injuries after a gang of youths hurled bombs when a police team turned up to arrest an alleged extortionist in Sodepur, on the northern fringes of Kolkata, on Saturday night.
The leader of the gang had allegedly gone to a businessman's house in Panihati with his associates to demand money. When a police team reached the spot, the gang hurled a few bombs.
A sub-inspector of Khardah police station suffered splinter injuries. The gang also hurled a few more bombs on a Trinamul office on BT Road, police officers said.
Later, three men, including prime accused Bishu Karmakar, were arrested in connection with the alleged bombing and extortion attempt.
“Bishu had recently walked out of jail on bail and targeted the businessman for money to meet his legal expenses,” said an officer of Khardah police station.
"We are trying to collect more information about this gang and its activities. A case has been started based on a complaint lodged by the businessman," the officer said.
The gang had allegedly landed up in the businessman’s house around 10pm demanding money. Sources said the businessman had tipped off the police while negotiating with the gang.
Sensing that cops had reached the spot, the gang members fled in their car. They allegedly stopped at Dhankal More on BT Road and hurled two bombs at Matangini Bhavan, which houses an office of the Trinamul Congress.
Since it was late at night, there wasn't anyone inside the party office and no one was injured. But the sound of bombing shook the locality, eyewitnesses have told the police.
Even before anyone could step out and note down the registration number of the vehicle, the gang had left.
A third bomb that was lobbed did not burst. Police later recovered it.
“The gang had come with specific information that the businessman was at his house in Panihati and had not expected that a police team would reach the spot so soon,” the officer said.