Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Dec 25: A child sustained serious injuries after a crude bomb exploded when he mistook it for a ball in the Basanti area of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place late Wednesday night in Kharimachhan under the Amjhara Gram Panchayat. According to locals, the child was playing inside an abandoned house when the explosion occurred. Neighbours rushed to the scene and found the child critically injured. He was immediately taken to a private hospital in Kolkata, where he is receiving treatment. Authorities said his condition is serious.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the origin of the bomb and how it ended up inside the abandoned house. Officers from Basanti police station, along with forensic teams, inspected the site and collected evidence. Fragments of the exploded device were found scattered throughout the house. The area has been cordoned off, and a police picket has been established.

A senior officer from Baruipur Police District said, “The child was injured after mistaking a crude bomb for a ball. We are investigating how it came to be inside the abandoned house. Forensic experts are examining the scene, and locals are being questioned to gather more information.”

Authorities are urging residents to report any suspicious objects in the area to prevent similar accidents.