Five Family Members Killed in Kashmir Explosion

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, May 17: Five members of a family including two girls were killed in a powerful explosion inside the house of a special police officer (SPO) in Ramban area in violence-hit Kashmir on Saturday.

A senior police officer said that a grenade explosion took place in the house of a police officer, Abdul Rehman at village Gurnal Neel, some 145 kms from summer capital Srinagar. The explosion went off with a big bang, causing the death of five people instantly. Among the dead are three women. The deceased were identified as Bashir Ahmad Suhail, 33, Rubina, 22, Saddam-ur-Rehman, 12, Babar, 5 and Rubina, 10.

It could not be immediately known whether the explosion was caused accidentally or militants had carried out a grenade attack on the house of the police officer. "The facts about the incident are being ascertained," a police officer said, adding, "Investigations have been launched".

A team of forensic experts were rushed to the spot and they are investigating the case.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

   _   _