Srinagar, Sep 20 (IANS): Two people were killed and four injured when an explosive device went off during collection of scrap in north Kashmir's Kupwara district Tuesday afternoon.

Police said a scrap collector was beating his bag on a rock to make it compact when some explosive device inside the bag went off. The scrap collector and a boy on the spot were killed while four people were injured.

The explosion took place at Maidanpora (Lolab) village, about 90 km from here, in Kupwara district.

Police believe the scrap collector unwittingly collected some unexploded device.

"The scrap collector was identified as Ali Muhammad Bhat, 47, a resident of Drugmulla in Baramulla district and the local boy was identified as Mudasir Khan, 13. The two died on the spot. Four others, including two boys, a girl and a woman, were injured," a police officer said.

In July this year, security forces and separatist guerrillas had faced each other in a gunfight in Maidanpora (Lolab) village.