Kupwara/Srinagar, Sep 20: Two civilians were killed and eight injured when an explosive device went off during collection of scrap at Maidanpora Lolab on Tuesday, around 22 kilometers from Kupwara town in North Kashmir.
Locals said that around 1 pm, a scrap collector while collecting junk from inhabitants was beating it to accommodate it in his handcart.
“During beating of scrap we heard a big bang. Everyone rushed out and saw the scrap dealer and Mudasir lying on ground,” said Sarpanch Abdul Rashid Dar of Maidanpora.
Police believe the scrap collector unwittingly collected some unexploded device. They identified the deceased as Ali Muhammad Bhat (47) son of Abdul Rehman Bhat of Dragmulla Baramulla and 15-year old student Mudasir Ahmad Khan son of Sonaullah Khan of Maidanpora.
The injured, officials said, were rushed to sub-district hospital Kupwara where one among them, Mir Abdul Rashid, was shifted to tertiary care SK Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar. Doctors at SKIMS declared Mir’s health condition as stable saying ‘his entire body is riddled with injuries.’
The other injured are Shahmala Begum wife of Abdullah Khan, Shaheena wife of Ishaq Khan, Tabish Jan daughter of Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, Suraya daughter of Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Mashoq Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rashid Mir and Rayees Ahmad Mir.
The place where the explosion went off, residents said, witnessed a gunfight between militants and security forces on July 15 this year.
Superintendent of Police Kupwara, V K Birdhi, told Greater Kashmir that investigations are on to ascertain the facts. “We have called FSL and crime department to take the samples from the blast site. The nature of shell is not exactly known. The scarp was being collected from residential area,” said Birdi.
An official stated that ex-gratia of Rs 5000 has been sanctioned for the injured. (With Shahid Rafiq in Kupwara)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST