Chitaybanday (Bandipora), Feb 3: Four minors sustained injuries when a shell exploded at Aragam Chattabandy here in north Kashmir, witnesses said.
“Children aged between 2 and 8 years were playing in open paddy fields this morning when they found an unexploded shell and started fiddling with it. The shell went off injuring the kids,” witness told Greater Kashmir.
 Injured were rushed to District Hospital Bandipora. “Four children have received splinter injuries. We have treated them all and one child will have to undergo a surgery as he has received many splinters,” Dr Yawar said.
 The injured children were identified as Amjad son of Ghulam Noorani, Momin Rather son of Ghulam Qadir, Kasier and Mehrajudin son of Shameem Ahmed.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir locals said that they had informed the district administration about the shells in the area on many occasion but till date nothing has been done to clear the area. “The abrupt explosion of hidden shells and explosive has become a routine. Many people till date have either died or sustained injuries in such explosions,” said a local, Ghulam Hassan.
 “There are more than two dozen people who have been left permanently disabled in Chitaybanday, Krishnarr, Aragam Gujjarpati and other adjoining hamlets of Chitabanday,” locals said. “Shells which have remained unexploded during encounters between forces and the militants pose a threat to lives of people. These are hidden under bushes, rocks and open fields,”
 During rainy season these shells come down towards the villages and pose a threat to locals.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST