A late-night bombing at a potato warehouse in Khardah Purani Bazar, within Titagarh municipality’s Ward 15, damaged the structure and triggered fresh safety concerns among traders, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Bengal.
The blasts were reported between midnight and 12.30am on Friday, when the market was largely shut and the area was described as deserted. Local residents reportedly heard two explosions in quick succession and alerted the police. The blast damaged the warehouse’s asbestos roof and walls.
Police from Khardah police station reached the market after receiving the alert and detained several people for questioning, the report said. The material supplied does not state whether the detentions have led to arrests or whether investigators have identified the people responsible for the explosions.
The incident has unsettled traders operating in the market. Businessman Bishal Sau alleged that criminal activity, including drinking, drug use and gambling, had become a regular occurrence in the area during the evening. He also alleged that the police were aware of those involved but said traders were afraid to name anyone because they could become targets.
“Any time, someone could lose their life,” Sau was quoted as saying. His account is an allegation from a local trader and has not been independently confirmed in the supplied report.
Other traders said the market had faced criminal activity for four to five years. Businessman Jayakanta Sau said the bombing would damage the market’s reputation and make customers afraid to visit. He added that traders had repeatedly approached the administration but claimed that a permanent solution had not been found.
The reported damage has also brought attention to the vulnerability of informal and semi-formal market spaces, where warehouses, shops and public movement often operate close together. A blast after business hours can directly threaten nearby structures and residents even when the market is closed. In this case, the report does not provide details about injuries, the type of explosive used, the extent of the structural damage or whether a forensic team examined the site.
Traders have demanded increased security in the market. The immediate investigation remains with Khardah police, who are questioning the detained individuals. Further details on the cause of the explosions, arrests and any formal police statement were not available in the supplied report.
