INDIA: BOMB ATTACK ON CALCUTTA HOME OF SPEAKER OF WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY

Record ID: 355299

  • Title: INDIA: BOMB ATTACK ON CALCUTTA HOME OF SPEAKER OF WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY
  • Date: 2nd December 1967
  • Summary: 1. LV MR. BANERJEE'S RESIDENCE 0.03 2. CU PAN SPOT WHERE BOMBS FELL. 0.08 3. SV ARMED GUARDS OUTSIDE RESIDENCE. 0.09 4. MV ARMED GUARDS. 0.12 5. SCU DITTO. 0.16 6. MV MR. BANERJEE WALKS FROM RESIDENCE. 0.32 7. CU SPOT WHERE BOMBS FELL. 0.35 8. SV MR. BANERJEE LOOKS TILT TO BOMB SPOT. 0.38 9. CU MR. BANERJEE LOO
  • Embargoed: 17th December 1967 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CALCUTTA, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Reuters ID: LVABX01GPO5XDR8OJU2DRW9580BW
  • Story Text: IN CALCUTTA -- CAPITAL OF THE INDIAN STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND THE SCENE OF RIOTING AND GENERAL STRIKES THIS WEEK -- TWO BOMBS WERE HURLED AT THE HOME OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, MR. BEJOYKUMAR BANERJEE, IN A MIDNIGHT RAID LAST NIGHT (FRIDAY). THE VIOLENCE FOLLOWS THE STATE GOVERNOR'S DISMISSAL OF THE GOVERNMENT, FORMED BY THE LEFT-WING UNITED FRONT AFTER THE RECENT ELECTIONS, FOR REFUSING TO CALL AN ASSEMBLY AND DEMONSTRATE ITS MAJORITY.

    MR. BANERJEE IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT WHICH WAS FORMED TO RULE WEST BENGAL AFTER THE DISMISSAL OF THE UNITED FRONT GOVERNMENT, WHICH NEVER HAD AN OUTRIGHT MAJORITY BUT HOPED TO RELY ON COALITION SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT. LAST NIGHT'S BOMB ATTACK SHOOK HIS HOUSE AND SHATTERED THE WINDOWS OF THE LIVING ROOM. THE ATTACKERS ESCAPED BY CAR. LATER, ARMED POLICE WERE STATIONED ON GUARD NEAR THE RESIDENCE.

    THE INCIDENT CAME IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF THE LATEST 24 - HOUR GENERAL STRIKE STAGED BY SUPPORTERS OF THE UNITED FRONT. THE BOMBS ACTUALLY FELL IN A FLOWER BED ABOUT 20 FEET (6 METRES) AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. MR. BANERJEE CAME OUT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE TO HIS FLOWER BED AND CHATTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE CROWD THAT QUICKLY GATHERED. HE SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE RETIRING TO BED FOR THE NIGHT, AFTER LISTENING TO A RECORDED RADIO TALK HE HAD GIVEN, WHEN HE EXPLOSIONS CAME. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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