Bomb blast at Chapra court in Bihar, six injured

Six people, including two women and an undertrial, were injured in a blast at Chapra civil court, 80 km north west of Patna on Monday morning. This is the second blast on the court premises in Bihar within two months.

Six people, including two women and an undertrial, were injured in a blast at Chapra civil court, 80 km north west of Patna on Monday morning. This is the second blast on the court premises in Bihar within two months. Earlier, there was a blast on Rohtas court premises.

The incident occurred around 8.35am when prisoners were brought to the civil court for proceedings. (Representative Photo)

The incident occurred in the highly-secured zone around 8.35am when prisoners were brought to the civil court for proceedings. Three suspects, including a woman identified as Khusbu Kumari, a resident of Awtarnagar police station area in Chapra, have been detained for interrogation.

Kumari, one of the injured women, is said to have been carrying the crude bomb on the court premises which accidentally went off in the portico area.

Police sources said criminals used the woman as a carrier to settle a score with someone. The police did not rule out the possibility of the motive to free some of the prisoners brought to the court and targeting an accused.

As soon as news about the blast spread, DM Vikash Anand and SP Pankaj Kumar Raj rushed to the spot and sent all the injured people to the nearest hospital. The police and administration have started a search operation and patrolling in the area. Security near the court premises has been beefed up.

On September 19, 2014, some people had hurled bombs from the first floor of Chapra civil court causing injury to one Shashi Bhusan Singh of Jhauan Basant village and a constable.

Sashi is an eyewitness in a triple murder case in July, 2011 at the Chapra residence of the then Maharajganj MP late Umashankar Singh. Sashi’s brother Manibhusan Singh, Devendra Kumar Singh, mukhiya of Satjora panchayat and driver Dinesh Rai were shot dead in the incident.

According to SP Pankaj Raj, Khusbu, said to be Shashi’s cousin, was earlier sent to judicial custody in connection with murderous attack in the 2014 court- related case. At present, she is on bail and has been referred to Patna Medical College Hospital in critical condition. A knife was also recovered from her possession.