Doda: A low-intensity explosion at a teacher’s house on Thursday triggered fresh panic in Doda, already tense amid ongoing political unrest. Police detained the teacher, Javed Hussain, and another individual, Khurshid, for questioning.
The blast, reported around 10:30 am in the Dumri-Thukar Mohalla area near Jamia Masjid, left no one injured. Forensic experts believe it was caused by a World War II-era German “stick grenade” that Hussain claimed he had discovered in the trash.
Police found splinter marks at the entrance of Hussain’s residence, which was quickly cordoned off. During preliminary questioning, Hussain admitted the device exploded at his home, saying he had mistaken it for a harmless object and even tried to use it as a pestle for grinding spices. He told investigators that the grenade emitted smoke when he pulled a string, prompting him to throw it outside moments before it went off.
Authorities noted that Hussain’s late father, Abdul Ahad Itoo, was a known Over Ground Worker (OGW) who often sheltered militants. The same house was the site of a 1996 encounter in which two terrorists were killed.
The incident comes as Doda faces heightened tension following the detention of sitting MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA). A communications blackout remains in force, with mobile internet and WiFi suspended. Protests over Malik’s arrest have led to clashes and the detention of over 80 people across the district.
