MUZAFFARABAD: A 45-year-old man died after a dud shell he tried to tamper with exploded in a border village of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday, police said.

Mohammad Rafique, son of Mohammad Akbar, spotted the unexploded mortar shell outside his home in Kairni Jabri village in Neza Pir sector of Haveli district at about 5:30pm, said Ansar Rathore, a police official in the area.

As the victim picked up the device, it exploded with a big bang, leaving him dead on the spot, he added.

Neza Pir sector often figures in media reports for being frequently hit by Indian troops from across the restive Line of Control (LoC).

However, on Monday, it was spared by Indian troops. Instead, they resorted to intermittent shelling in the neighbouring Haji Pir sector, Mr Rathore said, adding that no losses had been reported due to shelling.

Only last month, the AJK government had warned residents along the LoC against touching or picking any familiar and unfamiliar devices or gadgets if spotted anywhere in the shelling-infested areas to avoid risking their lives.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2019