Danger in disguise: Toy bomb injures teenage boy in North Waziristan

These toy bombs, shaped like iron lids and butterflies, have claimed many lives in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

MIRANSHAH:

A teenage boy was severely injured when a toy bomb exploded in his hands in Miranshah, North Waziristan on Saturday.

According to an official of the political administration, the boy has been identified as 14-year-old Mohsin Khan.

Khan told the administration official that he had gone to collect wood on the banks of Tochi River when he spotted a round iron lid which he picked up. He was playing with it on his way back home when it exploded.

Tochi River runs from Afghanistan and passes North Waziristan. Any toy bombs planted by Soviet troops during their invasion of Afghanistan wash away here and collect around the banks of rivers.

These toy bombs, usually shaped like iron lids, butterflies and other similar shapes, have claimed many lives in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2013.