Police at the explosion site in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Jan. 11: A 21-year-old autorickshaw driver was killed and his friend was injured when a country-made bomb exploded inside a cabin on Aska Road early today.

The autorickshaw driver, Mohammad Surfraj, died on the spot, while his friend, Mohammad Imran, received severe burn injuries. “The explosion occurred when Surfraj, a resident of Khwaja Street, was making bombs inside the cabin along with his four friends last night. They had made two bombs, but the third one exploded. The impact of the explosion was so strong that Surfraj’s right hand and portions of his skull were blown away. He died on the spot. Imran, who was sitting nearby, suffered injuries in his left eye and on some other parts of his body,” said inspector in charge of Town police station Anil Kumar Mishra.

The police have detained the other three friends of Surfraj — Khwaja Muzzafar, Mohammad Akram and Mohammad Imran.

“Mohammad Akram has suffered minor injuries on his face. But none of them had criminal records. They might have turned up to help Surfraj,” said sub-divisional police officer of Berhampur Thakur Prasad Patra.