In Madhya Pradesh state, India, a 35-year-old man died after a homemade explosive device concealed inside traditional Rasgulla sweets detonated in his mouth.
According to police, the device was intended for hunting wild boars.
The incident took place on Tuesday in the Dindori district. Rajendra Barautia was sitting around a campfire with other villagers when one of them brought something resembling sweets and handed it over to the man.
"This man was offered a bomb that some members of local tribal communities use for hunting wild boars. It exploded in his mouth," police officer Rekha Singh told AFP.
The man was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, but doctors were unable to save his life.
According to the Indian newspaper New Indian Express, the item was handed to the deceased by Ramabhagat Barautia, who told him it was a Rasgulla. Rasgulla is a famous Indian sweet made of soft, round balls of cheese soaked in sugar syrup. They are traditionally eaten whole.
In some rural parts of India, homemade devices used for hunting wild boars are made from a dough-like mixture added with gunpowder obtained from crackers or other sources. When the animal bites it, the device explodes. Due to their external resemblance to traditional sweets, such devices can also pose a danger to people.
The incident shocked and unsettled the village residents. Police arrested two men, who have been charged with causing death by negligence or by another act causing death, which is not classified as murder.
Investigators have yet to determine whether the explosion was an attempted premeditated murder or the result of a malicious prank.
"We do not know if the intention was to kill or if it was a prank. This will be clarified during the investigation," Singh stated.
