The Bowbazaar bomb blast was an explosion which occurred in the central business district of Bowbazar, Calcutta, India on the night of 16 March 1993. In total, it claimed the lives of 69 people.[1][2]

Background edit

In 1993, Mohammed Rashid Khan ran gambling establishments in the Bowbazaar area and had a workshop above his office where he made small bombs. He began stockpiling explosives. Preparations were made secretly until, on the night of 16 March, the entire stockpile blew up accidentally. If the blast had occurred in the daytime, the death toll would have been much higher. [3] According to some witnesses, the sound of the blast could be heard 3 miles away.

Aftermath edit

Khan and five others were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 by the Calcutta High Court under the Terrorist And Disruptive (Prevention) Act (TADA).[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "45 feared dead in Calcutta bomb attack". The Independent. 17 March 1993. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. ^ Gargan, Edward A. (17 March 1993). "Blast in Calcutta Kills at Least 45". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. ^ Vadukut, Sidin (31 July 2015). "Déjà View | Relative magnitudes". Livemint.
  4. ^ Konar, Debasish. "State plans to release Bowbazar blast convict | Kolkata News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 June 2020.