No Firing Happened on Holi - Army Denies Firing Shell
The Indian Army has refuted claims of conducting a firing exercise at its field firing range in Bihar's Gaya district on 8 March 2023. It is suspected that the death of three people in a village there may have occurred during an attempt to collect metal scrap from a blind or unexploded mortar shell. The Army did not conduct any firing exercise on 8 March as it was a holiday for the Holi festival. However, the unauthorised collection of remains of artillery shells and blind shells by locals has been going on for some time.
According to Danapur cantonment administrative commandant D.S. Chauhan, the explosion appears to have been caused by a mortar shell that people may have been trying to open to collect scrap metal for sale. The Army is providing all necessary assistance to the district administration to investigate the incident.
Gaya district magistrate Thiyagarajan S.M. has requested the Army to halt all types of firing exercises within his jurisdiction and set up a five-member team to investigate the matter. A forensic team from the Bihar police has also been deployed for the investigation. The Army officers have agreed to cooperate with the probe and have assured the district magistrate of their support.