Violence Mars West Bengal Phase 1: Several Injured in Murshidabad Crude Bomb Blast

Murshidabad : The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections was plunged into chaos this Thursday, April 23, 2026, as a crude bomb attack in the Nowda area of Murshidabad left multiple people injured. The explosion, which occurred as voters were lining up to cast their ballots, has sparked widespread panic and raised serious questions about security in one of the state's most volatile districts.

Escalation of Violence
The attack in Nowda is the latest in a series of violent incidents to hit the region. An injured local, visibly shaken, told reporters, "They were abusing us... we don't bother anyone," describing a sudden assault by unidentified individuals.

This follows a late-night attack on Wednesday near the Shivnagar Primary School, where crude bombs were hurled during a campaign event. While TMC candidate Sahina Mumtaz Khan narrowly escaped injury, a local woman was wounded in that blast. The recurring nature of these attacks has forced the Election Commission of India (ECI) to place the entire district under high-level surveillance.

Clashes and Political Scuffles
The tension shifted from the streets to political personalities later in the day when a scuffle broke out between Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters and Humayun Kabir, the founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP).

Kabir, an expelled former TMC leader, was reportedly attempting to visit the site of the Nowda bomb attack to meet with victims. He was intercepted by a mob of TMC workers, leading to a heated physical confrontation. Video footage from the scene shows Kabir in a tense standoff with both party cadres and security personnel as he accused the ruling party of voter intimidation.

Official Response
In response to the deteriorating law and order situation, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal has sought an immediate report from district authorities. "Strong action will be taken against those attempting to disrupt the democratic process," Agarwal stated, emphasizing that security has been heightened across all sensitive booths in Murshidabad.

Despite the violence, polling continues across the 152 constituencies of Phase 1, though the shadow of the crude bomb attacks looms large over the remaining hours of the vote.