: In the wake of the death of at least seven children in the blast at a firecracker factory in Pingla in Paschim Medinipur district, the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has sought report from the State Government. Twelve people were killed and four injured in the blast on Wednesday night.
“We have sought reports from the District Magistrate and District Child Protection Officer(DCPO) of Paschim Medinipur as we well as from the Directorate of Social Welfare Scheme on the children killed in the blast in Pingla,” commission chairman Ashokendu Sengupta told The Hindu here on Saturday.
The Commission sought to know from the officials what led to the death of the children. “We have also sought to know how so many children were involved in a hazardous profession like firecracker-making,” Mr. Sengupta said.
Since many of the child workers in the firecracker factory are from Murshidabad district, the Commission sought a report from the DCPO concerned on the migration of so many children from Paschim Medinipur to Murshidabad.
Meanwhile, locals had alleged that despite their repeated complaints about the fireworks factory, the police had not taken any action.
