Man killed in shell explosion

Tiruchirapalli, Feb 6 (UNI) A 30-year-old man was killed when a shell, supposedly belonging to Territorial Army, from which he was trying to extract copper, exploded at Vepussarypatti village near here today.

Police said the body of the temple priest Selvam, killed in the blast, was mutilated beyond recognition.

It had become a practice among the villagers to enter the restricted firing range of the Territorial Army situated at the village to collect shell parts and used catridges to extract copper and suitable materials as they fetched a handsome price in the local market.

Selvam might have picked up a shell from the firing range and was trying to open it at the back yard of his residence when the accident occurred, police said adding that the materials collected from the place of explosion would be sent for chemical analysis.

The details of the explosion would be sent to the authorities concerned, police added.

Meanwhile, the body was shifted to government hospital here for post-mortem.

UNI