Scavenger killed in Hyderabad market blast

Motorcyclist injured when hand grenade went off in trash near Mehran shopping centre

HYDERABAD: A man was killed and another injured in a low intensity blast of an explosive device, initially believed to be a hand grenade, in the Qasimabad town of Hyderabad on Monday evening.

The victim has been identified as Bachayo Bheel, around 40 years, who collected usable items from trash.

According to Hyderabad SSP Peer Muhammad Shah, a grenade exploded while Bheel was rummaging through the garbage near the Mehran shopping centre on main Qasimabad Road.

The road is a busy commercial street. A health centre and regional office of Sui Southern Gas Company are also located in the vicinity.



"It seems that due to our ongoing search operation some miscreant threw the grenade in the garbage," the SSP said.

A passer-by, Rajab Ali, who was riding a motorcycle, fell when the grenade exploded and sustained injuries.

Liaquat University Hospital confirmed receiving a body and injured from the incident site.

Sindh Inspector-General of Police Allah Dino Khawaja has directed the Hyderabad SSP to submit an inquiry report. Although high and low intensity explosions have occurred in other parts of Hyderabad, this is the first incident in a commercial area such as Qasimabad.

According to the Bomb Disposal Squad's incharge, Ramzan Panhwar, the explosive weighed between 90 to 100 grammes. He said that battery cells and ball bearings have been found at the site. "It seems that the explosive was contained in a tin." He explained that such improvised explosive devices are prepared to explode when they are touched.

The police, meanwhile, detained Bheel's brother for interrogation and also impounded his bicycle, which was found from the blast site.