BHOPAL: A 35-year-old man died in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district after an explosive device allegedly used to kill animals detonated in his mouth when he bit into it, mistaking it for a sweet, police said. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The victim, identified as Rajendra Barautiya, was sitting near a fire in the courtyard of his house in Padariya Chhanta village on November 10 after having dinner around 7 pm.
According to the Dindori Kotwali police station SHO, the two accused, Ram Bhagath Barautiya and Dharmu Banwari, arrived at his house around 8 pm. The men were drinking together when the incident occurred.
Ram Bhagath allegedly handed Rajendra the explosive, telling him it was a rasgulla. Believing it to be a sweet, Rajendra put it in his mouth and bit into it. The device detonated, causing severe injuries.
Rajendra’s family rushed him to Dindori District Hospital, where he died during treatment. Police arranged a post-mortem examination and handed over his body to the family.
Police are investigating how the accused obtained the explosive device.
“We are not yet certain how the accused obtained the device. They might have procured it while roaming in the jungle. The Forensic Science Laboratory is also helping us with this,” the SHO said.
Police said the explosion caused no further damage.
A case has been registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.
Both accused were produced before a magistrate and remanded to 15 days of judicial custody.
(With inputs from media reports)