Armyman among 3 killed in bomb blast in Punjab

Bathinda, Jun 26 (UNI) An army personnel was among three persons killed in a bomb explosion at a scrap dealers vend in Mehna village of Muktsar district this morning, police reports here stated.

Three others including a Naib Subedar of the army sustained injuries in the explosion.

Giving details, DSP Manmohan Sharma said Naib Subedar Tejvir Singh and sepoy Amar Singh stationed at Bathinda cantoment had gone to Mehna village in a army truck loaded with scrap. The two army personnel intended to sell the scrap which also included empty ammunation shells to scrap dealer Mithu.

The scrap dealer noticed a bomb like object in the scrap and asked the army personnel to defuse it or else he would not purchase it. One of the army personnel picked up a hammer from the scrap dealers vend and struck the bomb like object which immediately exploded, killing sepoy Amar Singh and Mithu on the spot.

Another person, identified as Jai Narayan who was standing outside the scrap dealers vend was also killed. The injured included the Naib Subedar besides Pala Ram and Jaswinder Singh, both of whom were also standing outside the dealers vend.

The DSP said the army authorities have been informed of the incident and a case has been registered at the Lambi police station.

There are indications that the two army personnel were involved in illegal sale of scrap.

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