The bomb exploded when Jamshid Talukder, son of Abu Salam Talukder of Chhoigram village, was playing with it taking it to be a ball. He found it under a stack of jute plants. The explosion blew away his fingers and cut open his belly, police and the victims' parents said.

He was rushed to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH). His condition is critical, doctors said yesterday.

Police rushed to the spot and recovered another bomb. They arrested one Saiful Islam.

Acting on his confession, police later arrested JCD activists Sabuj and Delwar from the SBMCH campus.

Police said Sabuj confessed to them that he made bombs and supplied those to ruling party men.

Police filed a case but said they were under political pressure to release the arrested people.