Jammu, March 23 An unexplained explosion outside the house of a former village head in the Samba district early Monday shook the neighborhood, officials said.
The explosion, the origin of which is yet unknown, occurred outside the residence of Jai Ram Sharma in Gawala Talab, about 10 km from the International Border in the Ghagwal sector, they said.
The explosion damaged the house's gate, a portion of the boundary wall, and shattered the window panes of several adjoining houses. No casualties were reported.
A team of forensic experts collected samples from the scene to determine the cause of the explosion, the officials said.
Teams from the National Investigation Agency and the National Security Guard, accompanied by sniffer dogs, also visited the blast site.
"The incident occurred around 1:07 am when the residents of the house heard an explosion. They came outside to find that the gate had been damaged," Samba Senior Superintendent of Police Virinder Singh Manhas told reporters at the scene.
"We have never heard such a loud explosion before. It shook the entire village and shattered the window panes of our house and nearby homes," Sharma said, requesting a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for the act.
He said the police collected the shrapnel and other pieces, possibly from a bomb or some explosive.
"The area is also close to the border, so people are scared," the former sarpanch, whose son is serving in the army, said.
An FIR was filed in connection with the incident.
