Live fuses cause panic in south Kashmir villages

Srinagar, May 29 (UNI) Panic gripped a south Kashmir village when five live Bofors fuses were found by people, official sources said today.

They said people found five fuses at a village near Khandroo 21 Field Ammunition Depot (FAD) in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

All those present were taken to a safe place and police were informed about the live fuses.

Later Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) destroyed three fuses without causing any damage while two others were handed over to FAD The fuse had remained unexploded during the devastating fire in the ammunition depot at Khandroo in August last year, that left more than 20 people, mostly army fire-fighters, dead and scores injured.

About half a dozen civilians were also killed or wounded after they touched the unexploded shells in about a dozen villages.

The Army authorities pressed into service about 100 BDS, brought from different parts of the country, to defuse the unexploded shells in the affected villages before the residents were allowed to return to their homes after about a month.

During the past two weeks about two dozen live fuses were detected and destroyed by the BDS in village Nowgam,Pahloo Shaguns and Khandroo without causing any damage.

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