Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

SOLDIER KILLED IN KASHMIR BLAST

WHILE POLICE TERMED THE EXPLOSION AS AN IED BLAST, ARMY OFFICIALS SAID IT WAS A GRENADE ATTACK

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

SRINAGAR: A soldier was killed and three others were injured in a militant attack in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday. While the police termed the explosion an IED (improvised explosive device) blast, the army said it was a grenade attack on a road opening party. “At 10.15am, we received informatio­n that a blast at Govt Middle School Subhanpora had injured four personnel of the 24 Rashtriya Rifles,” said a police spokesman.

SRINAGAR: A soldier was killed and three others were injured in a militant attack in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday.

While the police termed the explosion an IED (improvised explosive device) blast, the army said it was a grenade attack on a road opening party.

A police spokespers­on said that around at 10.15am, they received informatio­n that an explosion occurred at Govt Middle School Subhanpora in which four personnel of the 24 Rashtriya Rifles got injured and thereafter evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

“One of the personnel later succumbed to his injuries sustained from the blast. Security forces launched operations at a number of suspected locations to nab those involved,” the spokespers­on added.

As per preliminar­y investigat­ion by the police, a rudimentar­y IED with a low-powered explosive and ball bearings were planted in an abandoned building inside the school premises. “24 RR personnel used the verandah of the said building on a regular basis for various purposes. The IED was most probably planted in the night before the incident and it is evident that the attack was planned well in advance after observing troop movement for sustained periods of time,” the police spokespers­on said. He said a case with under relevant sections stands registered at Qaimoh police station and investigat­ion has been set into motion.

However, an army spokespers­on said four soldiers who were injured in a grenade attack.

“Terrorists lobbed grenade on army’s road opening party during the sanitisati­on drill in general area Shamshipur­a, Khanabal, Kulgam. Four soldiers sustained splinter injuries.

 ?? WASEEM ANDRABI/HT ?? Security personnel stand near the school building which was damaged in the blast in Kulgam on Wednesday .
WASEEM ANDRABI/HT Security personnel stand near the school building which was damaged in the blast in Kulgam on Wednesday .

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