Islamabad (Anantnag) Dec 3: Police on Friday said that four persons were injured when a mysterious explosive device went off in an orchard in this south Kashmir district on late Thursday night. However, police claimed that two of the injured persons had a criminal background and had been earlier booked under narcotic act.
 “The explosive device went off in an orchard at Shalgam area of Bijbehara last night injuring four persons. They were shifted to a hospital for treatment,” a police officer said.
 He identified injured as Irfan Ahmad Dar son of Showkat Ahmad of Waghama, Reyaz Ahmad Dar son of Muhammad Rafiq of Waghama, Parvaiz Ahmad Dar son of Muhammad Shabir, of Shalgam and Muhammad Ashraf Parray son of Abdul Wahab Parrayof Takiabal.
 “It was around 11pm in the night when we heard a big bang and suddenly heard the screams for help,” villagers said.
 They said as they ventured out of their houses they saw four persons lying in a pool of blood in an orchard and rushed them to the hospital immediately.
 “Three of the injured persons had sustained sort of pellet injuries in the thigh while one Muhammad Ashraf had sustained injuries on the chest,” said a doctor attending upon them at SMHS hospital adding that their condition is stable.
 Police have taken cognizance and registered an FIR No 287/2010 in this regard.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Islamabad (Anantnag), Bashir Ahmad Khan said: “The four persons might have got injured due to a low intensity explosion. We are investigating into the matter and have already seized the auto-rickshaw in which  they were traveling. It had been parked near to the spot of the incident”.
 Claiming that the injured had a criminal background, Khan said, “Two quintals of Fukki was recovered from Muhammad Ashraf Parray in 2007 and a case FIR No. 27/2007 stands registered against him, while as Riyaz Ahmad Dar has undergone 4-years detention under Narcotic and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act outside the state.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST