BREAKING: "We Thought It Was a Ball": Bombs Killing and Maiming Children in India

Over the past 30 years, homemade bombs have injured or killed at least 565 children in West Bengal, India, according to a BBC Eye investigation. These deadly devices, often tied to the state’s turbulent political landscape, have left Bengali children paying a tragic price.

A Game Turns Deadly

In May 1996, six boys from a Kolkata slum ventured out to play cricket on a sunny morning. It was a holiday—general election day—and the streets of their Jodhpur Park neighborhood buzzed with life. Among them was nine-year-old Puchu Sardar, who slipped past his sleeping father with a cricket bat. The crack of the bat echoed through the alley as the boys played.

When their ball flew into a small garden, they stumbled upon a black plastic bag filled with what appeared to be cricket balls. Unaware of the danger, they resumed their game, using one of the mysterious objects as a ball. When Puchu struck it with his bat, the "ball" exploded.

The blast ripped through the alley, leaving Puchu and his friends sprawled on the street, their bodies burned and torn. Two boys, Raju Das and Gopal Biswas, succumbed to their injuries, while Puchu and three others were severely wounded. Puchu narrowly survived, enduring months of pain and makeshift medical care as his family struggled to afford treatment.

This harrowing incident is just one among many involving crude bombs that have marred West Bengal's political history and forever changed the lives of its youngest victims.

The Toll on West Bengal’s Children

Between 1996 and 2024, the BBC combed through decades of newspaper archives and identified 565 child casualties, including 94 deaths and 471 injuries. On average, a child has been a victim of bomb violence every 18 days. However, these numbers are likely underestimated, as many incidents go unreported.

Over 60% of these cases involved children playing outdoors, where bombs—often hidden during elections to intimidate or harm opponents—lay unnoticed in fields, gardens, or near schools. Most victims come from poor families, children of laborers, house help, or farmworkers.

A History of Political Violence and Bombs

West Bengal, with a population exceeding 100 million, has long grappled with political violence. Since India's independence in 1947, various ruling parties have employed bombs as tools of intimidation and dominance. Bomb-making in Bengal traces its roots back to the early 20th century when revolutionaries used explosives against British colonial forces.

Today, crude bombs, locally called peto, are made from jute strings, nails, glass, and shrapnel. They are cheap, deadly, and often used during elections to sabotage polling stations or settle political scores. Despite their deadly toll, no political party admits responsibility, although experts agree the violence stems from Bengal’s entrenched political conflicts.

Lives Shattered by Explosions

The survivors of these blasts carry lifelong scars.

• Poulami Halder was just seven when a bomb exploded in her hand in 2018 while she was picking flowers for prayers. The blast cost her a hand and left her with injuries that required months of treatment. Now 13, she struggles with daily tasks and dreams of becoming a teacher.
• Sabina Khatun, injured in 2020, also lost her hand after picking up a bomb while grazing her goat. The trauma has left her battling social stigma and an uncertain future.
• Puchu Sardar, now 37, was forced to leave school after his injuries. He spent years hiding at home, terrified of the outside world. Today, he does odd construction jobs to support his family, still bearing the scars of that fateful day in 1996.

A Persistent Tragedy

Despite the devastating impact, crude bomb violence shows no signs of abating. Political parties deny any involvement, while experts lament the lack of accountability. Former police officer Pankaj Dutta, who passed away in November, described the situation as a "gross abuse of childhood" rooted in societal neglect.

The tragedy continues. In May 2024, three boys playing near a pond in Hooghly district stumbled upon bombs. The explosion killed nine-year-old Raj Biswas and maimed another child. Amid the grief, political slogans from a nearby election rally echoed through the air, a grim reminder of the violence’s ties to power struggles.

The Children of Bomb Violence

Many survivors cling to hope despite their challenges. Poulami and Sabina have learned to ride bicycles with one hand and continue their education. Puchu dreams of a brighter future for his young son. Yet, for many others, the pain of loss and the struggle for justice remains a harsh reality.

As Poulami poignantly stated, “Those who planted the bombs are still free. No child should ever be harmed like this again.”