Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Army today apprehended a Pakistani national on the Line of Control (LoC) at Salhutri in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district while a mysterious blast took place in a dustbin at City Chowk area of Poonch this morning but there were no casualties or major damage.
Official sources said troops of 39 Rashtriya Rifles intercepted and apprehended a Pakistani national as soon as he crossed into this side from the LoC at forward village of Salhutri in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district this morning.
The Pakistani national disclosed his identity as Mohammad Sharief, 26, son of Choudhary Ban Mohammad, a resident of village Troti, Abbaspur in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
An identity card of Pakistan Government and Rs 2500 in Pakistani currency were recovered from his possession.
Army troops quizzed the Pakistani national during which he disclosed that he had crossed over to this side inadvertently.
In the evening, Army handed over the youth to local police for sustained questioning.
Meanwhile, a mysterious blast took place in a dustbin kept on roadside at crowded City Chowk area of Poonch town at about 9.30 am today creating panic in the area.
SSP Poonch Ashkoor Wani denied that it was a blast.
He said some kind of gas might have led to fire in the dustbin. Investigations were on to find out nature of the gasses or whatever material led to fire in the dustbin, he added.
However, the mysterious blast triggered panic in the area as a school bus was crossing City Chowk at that time. A scooter parked in vicinity of the dustbin suffered damage but there were no casualties or injuries to the passers-by.
“As the area was crowded one, there would have been casualties in case an explosive device had gone off in the dustbin”, sources said, adding only the dustbin caught fire after a sound.
However, people deserted the spot for sometime and panic gripped the area.
Additional SP Poonch Yougal Manhas and DySP (Operations), Poonch Javed Iqbal rushed to the spot along with police and cordoned off area.
Sources said the forensic experts have seized relevant material from the dustbin to find out the nature of mysterious blast.
Normalcy was restored in Poonch town after sometime, police said.
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