Kashmir blast: Hizbul Mujahideen claims responsibility

Srinagar, Mar 18: Three soldiers and a civilian were injured critically when militants detonated a car blast on Srinagar- Baramulla bypass today (Mar 18, 2006), a senior police officer said.

The militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) K Rajinder Kumar told UNI that militants had parked an explosive laden white maruti car at Rawalpora bypass.

He said the explosive device was detonated as soon as a security force vehicles carrying soldiers reached the spot at about 0920 hrs.

Three soldiers and a civilian were injured in the blast, Mr Kumar said. The injured have been admitted to hospital where the condition of one of the soldiers is stated to be critical.

A HM spokesman told local mediapersons that the outfit caused the blast to target security force convoy.

He warned of more such attacks in the future.

An eyewitness, Abdul Rashid, told reporters it was a close call for the soldiers travelling in the bus which was actually targetted by the militants.

The blast was so powerful that its sound was heard in the entire area. Traffic was also suspended for about half an hour.

It is believed that a stolen car was used in the blast.

This was the second car blast in the Kashmir vally this year.

Year, 2005 witnessed more than a dozen car blasts claiming about 20 lives, including half a dozen security personnel.

Meanwhile, security forces and police have launched a massive hunt to trace two maruti cars stolen by unidentified people in the city.

All the vehicles, particuarly maruti cars, were being properly searched at various places in the city by security forces and police parties.

Besides checking documents of the vehicles, the occupants were also being frisked.

UNI