Srinagar: A 16-year-old boy was killed while another teenager sustained injuries after a mortar shell went off at Chuntiwari area of Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Monday.
Official sources told GNS said that the boys were playing in an open field at Chuntiwari area of Bagtore when suddenly they found a mortar shell in the area and started fiddling with it. In the meantime, the shell exploded resulting in injuries to both of them.
The injured boys were identified as Amjid Ahmad Mapnoo (16) son of Mohd Sultan and Istiyaq Ahmad Lone (15) son of Mohammad Ismail Lone of Nayel village.
The duo was immediately shifted to nearby hospital where Amjid was declared brought dead by the doctors while as Istiyaq was referred to Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bandipora Rahul Malik, when contacted by GNS, said that the two minor boys came in contact with some explosive substance that got exploded resulting in the death of Amjid and injuries to another.
Asked about the nature of the explosive, the SSP said that it may be an unused mortar shell or something like that. “Probability of it being mortar shell is more”.
Furthermore, things will be clear during investigations which have been initiated by police, SSP said, adding that a case under relevant sections of law has also been registered.
Sources, meanwhile confirmed that it was an 81 mm mortar shell. (GNS)
