Nagaon, April 3: One person was killed today when he tried to a force open the outer shell of a mortar which was left unexploded by security personnel at a firing range at Chuto Kandoli under Rangolu police station in Nagaon district of Assam.
The high-explosive mortar was picked up by a nine-year-old boy from a jungle near the firing range of 9 Assam Police Battalion on Thursday and handed over to his domestic help, Phaghu Bhumij, who tried to fiddle with it this morning.
“The child, Krishna Gopal Hazarika, brought the mortar home and handed it over to Bhumij, their domestic help. This morning, Bhumij tried to open the outer shell of the mortar which exploded, killing him on the spot.” Nagaon additional superintendent of police (headquarters) Amrit Bhuyan said.
The Nagaon-based 34 CRPF and 9 APBn personnel were carrying out practice sessions at the firing range since March 26.
It is believed that the mortar was left behind unused during one of these sessions.
The APBn has its headquarters at Barhampur, about 10km from the firing range.
While the CRPF carried out its practice session on March 26, the 9 APBn personnel practised on March 29 and 30.
“We are investigating the incident. We are trying to find out whether the CRPF or the APBn left behind the mortar,” Bhuyan said.
Police have collected the remains of the mortar.
Bhumij’s body has been sent for post-mortem.
A CRPF official said they had fired only one mortar during the practice session and it had exploded.
Mortar blast kills youth
