Army Denies Mortar Firing From Its Ranges After Three Killed By Shell In Bihar On Holi

The Army said that no permission was sought from local civil administration and police, for March 8, which it seeks on a daily basis before firing. 

3 Killed In Bihar During Holi Celebration ( Image Source :ABP News )

New Delhi: The Indian Army on Thursday said that there was no mortar firing at Bihar’s Deuri Dumri Field Firing Range on March 8 after media reports stated killing of three members of a family in Gaya where an Army mortar shell overshot the firing range and crashed into a village nearby. 

“The Indian Army clarifies that there was no mortar firing at Deuri Dumri Field Firing Range on 08 March 2023 and extends all possible cooperation to the investigation into the cause of the tragedy,” the Army said in a statement on Thursday. 

The army said that the incident was being “ wrongly broadcast/published by some sections of the media as an accident due to mortar firing by the Army,” adding that no permission was sought from local civil administration and police, for March 8, which it seeks on a daily basis before firing. 

A photo of the impact of the mortar shell showing a round shaped hole in the ground has been shared on social media. Responding to such posts the Army said, “Mortar shell explosions on impact do not leave such signatures. Apparently, this could be a case of unauthorised collection of a mortar blind shell that fell in the specified impact area at an earlier date and an attempt was made to destroy it to extract scrap metal possibly for sale on 08 Mar 2023 which may cause explosion and unfortunate accident.”

Three members of the same family were killed while three others were grievously injured on Wednesday. 

The deceased included a young couple Suraj Kumar and Kanchan Kumari, besides a close relative Govind Manjhi. Kanchan had come to her brother's home, along with her husband, to celebrate Holi.

Gaya Superintendent of Police Ashish Bharti said the incident took place in Gularved village of Barachatti police station area in the early hours of the day.