In a bizarre incident, one person was killed when an unexploded mortar went off in the Indian Army’s Ballaliang firing range near Loiliang village of Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.
The man identified as one Bapianglum Tailu, aged around 51 died after he accidentally stepped on one of the misfired mortars that was lying near a stream inside the Indian Army’s firing range.
According to police, who later arrived at the scene stated that the deceased sustained multiple injuries leading to his death on the spot.
The deceased person’s son who was at a little distance from his father sustained minor injuries.
Meanwhile, the police have registered case of unnatural death and investigation into the whole incident is going on.
It may be recalled that in April 2014, a 13-year-old boy was found dead near the firing range.
It was believed that the boy had stepped on an unexploded mortar and was killed on the spot.
Meanwhile, residents of the area informed that so far seven people have lost their lives inside the firing range over the past two decades.
Allegations are rife that the Indian Army often leaves misfired mortars and other explosive devices in the firing range without defusing them.
Notably, the village is just 100 metres away from the firing range.
The locals have been pleading with the concerned authorities to shift the firing range, but their appeals have been unheard so far.