CRPF constable killed, officer among five injured in Kashmir blast

Srinagar, Mar 31 (UNI) A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) head constable was killed and four others, including an officer, were injured when their vehicle was blown up in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast at Soura on the city outskirts today.

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

Official sources said militants today triggered a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which was planted on the main road at Soura at 1130 hrs.

The sound of the blast was heard in the entire down town.

A CRPF vehicle was damaged in the blast, sources said, adding that Assistant Commandant Abdul Rashid and four jawans besides a civilian were injured in the explosion. The injured were admitted to nearby Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) where a head constable Madan Singh died.

Later security forces and police conducted search operation in the area.

A UNI correspondent who visited the site of the blast saw a big crater in the middle of Dr Ali Jan road, about half a km away SKIMS.

A large number of people present in the hospital ran towards the main building of the SKIMS after the blast.

A caller who identified himself as spokesman of the outfit claimed six security personnel were killed in the blast.

This was the fourth blast in the city and its outskirts during the past one week. More than 20 people, including six security personnel were injured in these blasts.

UNI BAS LS HT1450