Second blast in hills in 5 days, no one injured

Kolkata: After Kalimpong, another police station became the target of a brazen attack in Darjeeling early on Thursday when an IED exploded at Sukhia Pokhri police station, leaving a woman reportedly injured. Another blast took place in the Hills later.

This was the second IED blast after the one at Darjeeling Super Market within a week. Earlier, a civic police volunteer was killed while two police personnel were injured when two alleged GJM supporters hurled a hand grenade at the Kalimpong police station. 

This time the blast took place at around 1 am outside the Sukhia Pokhri police station when a defeaning sound rocked the area. Police personnel rushed to the spot. They however failed to trace anyone. Preliminary investigation revealed that the IED blast caused heavy damage to the nearby shops and vehicles. 

According to sources, the IED explosion was aimed at the police station, but the device failed to breach the perimeter walls of the building and exploded on the road suddenly. The second blast took place at Lodhama. 

Some vehicles were damaged but no one was injured. Additional director general (law and order) Anuj Sharma said, “Two blasts took place. But there are no reports of any injury. We have started an investigation into both the cases.” 

Also, a godown was torched, allegedly by GJM workers during the ongoing shutdown, which entered 71st day. No one was however injured, the police said. The blasts took place five days after twin blasts in the Hills.