Mine blast kills 1; injure two others shifted to GMC

The Mine blast occurred when the village children were grazing their cattles in the forest area in Batlidar. Unconfirmed sources claim that it was a Para bomb which might have remained unexploded during the operation launched by the army and police in the area which continued for 25 days in recent past.

Mendhar, July 11: A twelve year old boy was killed while two other minor girls were critically wounded when a landmine exploded in Bhatidhar forests of Mendhar in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Mine blast occurred when the village children were grazing their cattles in the forest area in Batlidar. Unconfirmed sources claim that it was a Para bomb which might have remained unexploded during the operation launched by the army and police in the area which continued for 25 days in recent past.

Soon after the Locals and army personnel heard the blast sound rushed the spot and shifted all the three to Mendhar Hospital where doctors declared Vikar Ahmad son of Mohd Shabir of Batlidar as dead and two other girls were referred to Jammu Medical College for specialized treatment.

The critically injured have been identified as 10 years old Syeeda Parveen daughter of Mohd Younis and 13 year old Nailya Kausar daughter of Mohd Ibrahim both residents of Batlidar area.

According to villagers, the boy was a shepherd along with two neighbor girls was grazing cattles when the accident takes place.

In a similar incident, a 12-year-old girl was injured, after he accidentally stepped on a landmine in Kupwara, 100 kilometers northwest of Srinagar, the region's summer capital, said police Friday evening.

Meanwhile, MLA Mendhar Sardar Rafiq Hussian Khan while expressing sympathies with the bereaved family has demanded rupees five lakh to the family of the deceased and three lakh to those injured in the incident. (NAK)