3 ARMY SOLDIERS INJURED IN BLAST IN J&K’S SHOPIAN

HT Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Three soldiers, on way to an anti-terrorist operation, were injured in a blast inside their vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday, police said, adding that an investigation was underway to ascertain the nature and source of the blast.

The explosion took place inside a private vehicle hired by security forces for their operation at Sedow village in Shopian district, a senior defence official said.

Following specific intelligence, an army team launched a cordon-and-search operation in Patitohalan area around 3am on Thursday, Emron Musavi, PRO (defence), Srinagar, said.

“While moving to the target area, approximately 1km from Sedow, an explosion took place in the civil hired vehicle, resulting in injuries to three Indian Army soldiers,” Musavi said.

“The blast is very likely from either an IED (improvised explosive device) or a grenade or a battery malfunctioning in the vehicle. Details are being ascertained.”

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar tweeted: “A #blast took place inside a private hired vehicle at Sedow, #Shopian. 03 soldiers injured & shifted to Hospital.” “Nature & source (blast due to grenade or already planted IED inside vehicle or malfunctioning of battery) of blast being investigated & will be shared,” added Kumar.

The defence PRO said the injured personnel were rushed to the district hospital, Shopian, for first aid before they were evacuated to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. “One soldier is critical while two others are stable,” Musavi said.

“A search to nab the terrorists is in progress,” he added.