BICHOLIM: Close on the heels of crude bomb that exploded recently in a house in South Goa, a 14-year-old girl had a lucky escape when a crude bomb exploded when a dog bit it in front of a house at Dhabdabo-Bicholim on Sunday evening.
According to sources, the dog belonging to Dinesh Mandrekar went in the neighbour’s compound and bit a crude bomb, which was kept outside the house that triggered explosion. Sources informed that the incident occurred at about 6.30 pm and being a Sunday, the family of Mandrekar from Dhabdabo was at home, while his daughter, Diksha, was studying. After finishing her studies, Diksha went out of the house and her dog followed her.
“The dog never used to venture beyond the limits of the house. However, today it came out along with me and was just in front of me,” recalled Diksha. “After smelling something, the dog directly went into the compound of the nearby house and the next thing that I remembered was the explosion and huge smoke engulfed the entire area,” informed Diksha.
Diksha was so frightened by the sound that she rushed into the house, while all the family members came out after being alerted with the bang that was heard almost 2 kms away.
“The smoke remained for a long time and when we went to the site, we found the dog lying dead with its mouth ripped open,” informed Dinesh.
Sources further informed that there are about three houses within close proximity of the explosion site.
Bicholim Police rushed to the site and registered a complaint. The police found another live crude bomb next to the dog. The bomb squad and the dog squad were also summoned at the site of explosion.“After the live bomb was found next to the dog, we called the bomb squad and the dog squad to comb the entire area. The dog squad was taken to all the three houses near the explosion, but they did not find anything,” Bicholim PI Rupen Shetgaonkar told Herald. “We have registered a case against unknown person under explosive act and thorough investigation will be carried out,” said PI Shetgaonkar.
Meanwhile, Animal Rescue Squad (ARS) Chief Amrut Singh, who also rushed to the site, said one such case was also reported at Saleli-Valpoi, where a dog was killed in explosion.
“We demand with the general public to be on alert and inform us if there are any suspicious movements in the jungle area, especially during evening or at night,” urged Amrut Singh. “Such types of bombs are made to kill wild animals, but now even domestic animals are killed,” said Amrut Singh. “It was luck that there were no human casualties reported here, but such bombs are difficult to trace and the hunters plant them late in the evening and then they are collected in the morning. But, by if chance they fail to remove it, then it would pose a big danger, as these bombs explode after pressure is exhorted on them,” added Amrut Singh.
