Tarn Taran scrap dealer, kin killed as shell explodes

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, April 30

A scrap dealer and his daughter were killed in an accidental explosion in the courtyard of his house at Narli village here today. The deceased were identified as Mukhtar Singh (36) and Sandeep Kaur (7).

According to the police, Mukhtar was running his business from his home. The incident took place when he was trying to extract iron from an old shell with a hammer that led to the blast.

His minor daughter Sandeep Kaur was standing by his side. The explosion was so powerful that it ripped apart their bodies. The hammer was found around 200 m away from his residence.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Harjit Singh, said preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was hammering an old rocket launcher shell that led to the explosion. He said they were yet to ascertain the source from where he had procured the shell.

Ranjit Singh, a villager, said Mukhtar’s wife and two children were inside the house and they had a narrow escape.