Buddha, Paswan narrowly escape landmine blast

SALBONI: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the Union minister of steel Ramvilas Paswan narrowly escaped a Maoist-operated landmine blast at Salboni in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Sunday.

The blast targeting the chief minister's convoy took place while Bhattacharjee and Paswan were returning from the inauguration ceremony of JSW Steel Ltd's 10-million tonne steel plant at Salboni on Sunday afternoon.

According to police sources, the blast took place just a few minutes after the VVIP convoy of the two ministers crossed the area. The state police intelligence is convinced that Maoist guerrillas are behind the blast and the target was Bhattacharjee, not Paswan.