Seven killed as bomb explodes in Bihar (Second Lead)

PATNA - At least seven people, mostly children, were killed and around half a dozen seriously injured Sunday morning when a cylinder bomb exploded at Pachokhar village in Bihar’s Aurangabad district, police said.

The bomb was recovered during the final phase of the Bihar assembly polls Saturday but the police had failed to defuse it. On Sunday morning, villagers gathered to see the bomb when it suddenly exploded, killing seven people and injuring many, a police officer said.

The bomb was planted by Maoists to disrupt the polls, he added.

“The casualties may go up as some of those seriously injured are battling for life,” Bihar police chief Neelmani told IANS over the telephone.

Expressing shock, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a probe into the incident and asked top officials to submit a report by Sunday evening.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each to the victim’s families.

Neelmani said that the policemen found guilty of carelessness will be punished. “Strict action will be taken against guilty policemen for their carelessness,” he said.

Angry villagers blamed the police for being careless and leaving the bomb that was not defused.

Hundreds of villagers staged a protest when the district magistrate and superintendent of police reached the village and demanded action against the policemen responsible for the accident.