Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: At least five civilians were injured today morning when a grenade exploded inside the debris of the house where a shootout took place between militants and security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district last night.
The civilians were removing the debris of the house that was damaged in the fierce encounter even as the police had asked them not to visit the debris site unless their bomb disposal squad carries out the inspection first.
Superintendent of Police, Shopian, Altaf Khan told Excelsior that four to five civilians have sustained injuries due to the grenade blast that had remained unexploded during the encounter.
“After the encounter ended, we had asked the villagers not to go to the encounter site till our bomb disposal squad searches and clears the spot of any unexploded weapon. But some people had gone to the spot this morning and fiddled with the grenade,” Khan said.
He said that the injured civilians have been rushed to the Pulwama hospital for treatment. “They have suffered injuries but all are stable,” the SP said.
A police spokesman identified the injured civilians as Umer Ahmad Teli, Mehvish, both resdients of Heff Shirmal, Mohammad Amin Dar of Gunderdervish, Shakir Ahmad Dar and Parvaiz Dar of Amarbugh.
He said these civilians were injured while clearing the debris.
Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed and four Army personnel, including a Major, were injured in the encounter in Heff Shirmal village in Shopian district.
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