9-year-old girl killed in bomb blast during TMC victory celebrations in Bengal’s Nadia district

West Bengal’s long, bloodstained history of poll violence took a tragic turn on Monday as a nine-year-old girl lost her life in a bomb explosion during celebrations following the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) by-election victory in Nadia district’s Kaliganj Assembly seat.

The young victim, identified as Tamanna Khatun, a Class IV student, was returning home from school when shrapnel from a crude bomb hit her, fatally wounding her in the Molandighi area of Kaliganj.

She was rushed to a nearby healthcare facility but succumbed to her injuries en route, casting a pall of horror over what should have been a day of political triumph.

Bomb Hurled Near Political Rival’s Home

According to local sources, TMC supporters were in the midst of celebrations following Alifa Ahmed’s decisive win in the bypoll, defeating BJP’s Ashish Ghosh by over 50,000 votes. During the victory procession, a bomb was allegedly hurled towards a CPM worker’s house, leading to the explosion that tragically claimed the child’s life.

Police have arrested one person, identified as Aftab Sheikh, in connection with the incident. However, the investigation is still in its early stages.

CM Mamata Banerjee Vows Action, Blame Game Ensues

As the news of the child’s death triggered outrage across political lines, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her anguish on social media.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened at the death of a young girl in an explosion at Barochandgar in Krishnagar 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 earliest,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders launched a scathing attack on the ruling party. Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT cell chief, squarely blamed Mamata Banerjee’s leadership for fostering a culture of “violent, vote-bank driven politics.”

“This is not governance. This is criminal neglect… There is no law and order in West Bengal anymore,” he charged.

BJP state secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay also questioned the presence of live crude bombs during a political celebration, demanding accountability for what he described as a preventable tragedy.

Election Commission Seeks Detailed Report

The Election Commission of India has taken serious note of the incident and has reportedly sought a detailed report on the explosion and the security situation in Kaliganj.

The by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed. But what began as a routine democratic exercise ended in grief for a family who never imagined that their daughter would become an unwitting victim of post-poll violence.

As Bengal reels from this shocking incident, the image of Tamanna—an innocent child caught in political crossfire—serves as a haunting reminder of the price citizens often pay for the state’s long-standing cycles of electoral aggression.