Murshidabad: A crude bomb explosion rocked the Nowda area of West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Thursday, April 23, 2026, as the state conducted the first phase of its Assembly elections. The blast occurred near Shivnagar Primary School while voting was actively underway in 152 constituencies across 16 districts. Several individuals, including a local resident who had stepped out for prayers, sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to nearby medical facilities. Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Sahina Mumtaz Khan was reportedly in the vicinity at the time of the explosion but escaped unhurt.
The incident triggered widespread panic and led to a temporary disruption of polling activity in the locality. TMC leaders have alleged that supporters of the Amjanata Unnayan Party, led by Humayun Kabir, were behind the attack, though the opposition has dismissed these claims as politically motivated. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal has sought a detailed report on the incident and assured that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators. Security has since been intensified with the deployment of additional central forces to ensure the safety of voters for the remainder of the day.
This explosion is part of a series of violent incidents reported across North Bengal and Murshidabad since Wednesday night. Similar tensions were noted in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi, where a BJP leader was allegedly attacked, and in Domkal’s Raipur village, where a CPM worker and his son were injured. Despite these localized disruptions, the Election Commission reported a voter turnout of over 41% by 11:00 AM. Polling for the remaining 142 seats is scheduled for April 29, with the final counting of votes set for May 4, 2026.
