Bomb explosion near Shiv temple [ Jammu & Kashmir, India ]

[ Reported as seen ]

In the Surankote neighbourhood of the Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, November 16, there was an explosion at a bus stop next to a Shiv Mandir. Shrapnel was discovered on the Hindu temple’s walls following the explosion. No official confirmation of any casualties has been made. This event took place in Poonch precisely one month after enigmatic posters surfaced here demanding Hindu and Sikh families to leave their houses.

Security personnel with firearms can be seen taking stock inside the temple in a footage released by news agency ANI. Holes and marks may also be seen in several locations on the temple’s walls.

There is a hole on the ground where the “mysterious” explosion occurred, according to authorities. The reason for the explosion is yet unknown. But according to reports, it may be a grenade strike. Investigations have been launched by security authorities.

Atul Sharma, the temple priest, revealed that the explosion happened on Wednesday night at about 8:50 p.m. He remembered hearing a loud noise when he was standing at the temple’s entrance. He went on to say that the guard had warned him not to approach the temple grounds after informing him about the explosion. The priest then made a call to the appropriate authorities. Then SHO and DSP showed up at the scene.

Notably, on the day of the explosion, police had posted warnings at the homes of many narcotics peddlers in the Poonch neighbourhood. In addition, three terrorists, including a government instructor, were apprehended in Salain village, which is located in the same vicinity as the explosion. Abdul Rashid Salian, Mehraj Ahmed, and Ajaz Ahmed Shaikh (a government instructor) were named as the accused.