One killed, nine soldiers injured in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 18 (UNI) Nine soldiers were among ten people injured critically when militants detonated a car blast on Srinagar- Baramulla bypass today, a senior police officer said.

Elsewhere in the valley, militants shot dead one Tanveer Ahmad Parray alias Sata at Naidkadal in Baramulla.

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.

The explosive device was detonated as soon as a security force vehicle 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.

However, a police press note issued this evening said nine soldiers and a woman were injured in the blast. A security force vehicle was also damaged in the blast.

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 valley this year.

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

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