"On 22 May, 2011 (Sunday), a 13-year-old seventh-grade student and two 11-year-old fifth graders were collecting scrap metal at the firing range of a military unit located 13 km from the town of Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky in the Trans-Baikal region," the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
"They found a metal object resembling a bullet. The oldest boy took it in his hands and began to heat it up with a cigarette lighter, with the result that the cartridge exploded," the statement said.
"The child died on the spot. His friends received multiple injuries and were taken to a hospital."Officials said a check on the boys' homes turned up one live round and several items that experts identified as pieces of ammunition.
Published 23 May 2011, 02:10 IST