Six-year-old boy killed, four other kids hurt in explosion

Our Correspondent

Anantnag, July 11

A six-year-old boy died while four other children, including a girl, aged between six and 12, were injured in a mysterious blast in Shopian district on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Salik Iqbal, son of Muhammad Iqbal Ganaie, a resident of Meemandar village in Shopian. Salik was a class III student at the local Government Middle School.

The injured have been identified as Tahir Khursheed (12), Razia Jan (8), Arsalan Aslam (6) and Suhaib (7).

The incident took place around 12.30 pm at Meemandar village.

There are conflicting versions on the reasons behind the blast. Initial reports said the children were fiddling with a hand grenade. Salik’s mother, however, said she was present around the children and they were not carrying any explosives.

“We were all sitting outside our house. I had my back towards them and they were watching something on mobile phone,” said Rukhsana, Salik’s mother.

The children were taken to hospital, where Salik was declared brought dead.

The other children have been shifted to the SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.

The family, on the basis of Rukhsana’s testimony, is rubbishing the reports.

Sandeep Chaudhary, Shopian SSP, said the cause of the blast was being ascertained. The injured were stable, he added.