Mortar shell blast kills five in Meerut

Seven injured have been admitted at the PL Sharma District Hospital and Medical College. The police said doctors had informed them that condition of two of the injured persons was critical.

Superintendent of Police, Meerut, Raghubeer Lal, said, 8220;It is suspected that ragpickers had brought mortar shells from Army shooting range in the cantonment area. They were stricking the shell with a hammer to extract metal brass when it exploded.8221;

According to the police, on Saturday afternoon around 3.50 pm, residents of slum area heard a loud deafening sound coming from one of the makeshift houses. When they reached the spot, they found bodies scattered on the ground. The police, who rushed to the site, took the injured to the hospital. Six live mortar shells were recovered from the site.

8220;All injured and deceased are natives of Assam and had been living in that area for a long time,8221; added Lal. Sources said the population strength of the area where the incident occurred is around 5,000.

Inspector General Meerut zone Gurudarshan Singh said, 8220;It was an accident and had no links with any terror activities8221;. He added that they are planning to create awareness in the area and would request residents to avoid breaking any solid material without taking prior permission. 8220;We would also talk to Army officials in this regard,8221; he added.

The deceased have been identified as Sober Ali 16, Saedul Ali 10, Ejaz Ali 16, Izabul 12 and Mushrraf 20.

The injured are Habizul Rehman 11, Okia 3, Amir Ali 10, Sukhman 15, Kamela Bano 24, Mamta Bano 23 and Shaznal Jamal 7.