Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 23: An employee of PWD (R&B) was killed while at least six persons including a 5-year-old child were injured and about half a dozen vehicles including a college bus damaged in a powerful explosion at Bani Police Station, about 165 kms from Kathua district headquarters this morning.
The impact of the explosion was so powerful that window panes of nearly a dozen houses and Government buildings in the vicinity were smashed and even the cracks were developed in the adjoining buildings. The BSNL exchange which is adjoining the Police complex, also suffered some damage and it stopped functioning. A Degree College bus and five other vehicles parked in the ground near BSNL office, suffered extensive damaged as all the window panes and front and rear wind screens of the vehicles including two cars and a Safari vehicle were smashed.
The incident took place at around 10.30 am when the Station House Officer (SHO), Inspector Mohd Aslam had gone to the local Munsiff Court for appearance in a case. The explosion created nearly four feet deep and five feet wide crater on the ground. Panic gripped the entire town with the explosion and the people apprehended that Police Station has been blown up by militants. Thick clouds of smoke were seen in the sky over the Police Station by local residents. The police guards on duty closed the main gate and restricted the entry of the people inside the complex. Entire area was cordoned off and alert sounded as immediately they could not realize what exactly has happened.
Sub Divisional Police Officer, Basohli Mohd Rafiq said PWD authorities had stored some explosive material in safe custody in Police Station complex. They use this explosive for blasting rocks during construction of road in the area. A room had been provided to them within the complex for storage . A new building of the Police Station is also under construction within the complex and some workers were engaged there.
The SDPO further said work supervisor Mohd Iqbal of Bani came to Police Station. He wanted to carry the only explosive box left in the room. As the R&B people found it as expired, they tried to destroy it. The cops had already handed over the box to them and asked to take it away. Iqbal with the help of some labourers tried to burn it for destroying near a shed in the complex. As it caught fire, the massive explosion rocked the area, killing Iqbal on the spot and causing injuries to six others. The building also suffered damage in the blast as it was so powerful. He said an FIR has been registered in this connection.
The body of Mohammad Iqbal hailing from Bani had almost blown up in pieces and flesh and blood spread all over the spot. A lady teacher and 5 year-old student who were passing through the nearby lane also suffered injuries due to falling of a portion of a wall with the blast. Three police vehicles parked nearby were also partially damaged.
All the six injured including four labourers were rushed to local hospital. They were identified as Vijay Kumar, son of Joginder Pal of Danera in Punjab, Bal Krishan, son of Anant Ram of Bari village near Bani, Krishan Chand, son of Denu of Sargan village, Teacher Kunti Devi, wife of Vimal Kant of Bani and 5-year old Saddam Hussain, son of Riaz Ahmed of Bani. The minor boy has received head injury.
SDM Bani, Rajinder Sharma said that the condition of all the six injured was said to be out of danger. He said Vijay Kumar of Dunera has got his eye damaged in the blast. He was shifted to GMC hospital Jammu. Mr Sharma further said that impact of the blast was very powerful as he could realize it when he was at his officials residence, hardly 200 mt away from ‘Thana’ when it occurred. He said immediately after the blast he rushed to the Police Station and got injured evacuated to the hospital. He said earlier it was apprehended as handiwork of militants but after reaching the spot it was found that explosive belonging to PWD (R&B), has exploded due to mishandling inside the Station.
When asked about any permission sought by the concerned Executive Engineer or AEE for shifting explosive, the SDM said they had not sought any permission from Executive Magistrate (Tehsildar) or him in this regard. He said DC Kathua has ordered an inquiry into the matter and entrusted the task to him. The SDM said that he has spoken to injured persons, policemen of the Station and other eye-witnesses besides some R&B employees. The spot was also examined and a detailed report will be submitted to the DC Kathua, Zahiha Khan. He said negligence on the part of Policemen inside the Station can not be ruled out as explosive was burnt inside the complex.
IGP Jammu, Dilbagh Singh said that an internal inquiry had been ordered and if needed a case will be registered for negligence against policemen.
SSP Kathua Atul Goel said that explosive belonged to R&B Department. The only box left in the store room, kept in the safe custody at Station was handed over by policemen to the Work Supervisor. Unaware of the danger, he took this expired box to a corner and set it on fire to destroy without the knowledge of cops there. He however, said that an inquiry has been initiated in this regard.
Meanwhile, the District Administration provided Rs 5000 immediate assistance to the family of the deceased. His burial was also performed at Bani town this afternoon and a large number of people from all walks of life participated.
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