Fidayeen among two militants killed, grenades recovered in J

Srinagar, Apr 22 (UNI) A fidayeen was today blown into pieces when he made an abortive attempt to attack an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Three Air force vehicles were damaged in the blast, he added.

Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Al-Mansoorain and Pakistan based Lashker- e-Toiba (LeT) have claimed responsibility for the blast.

The separate incidents a militant was killed and three live grenades were recovered from public places overnight.

The spokesman said a fidayeen triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in a parked vehicle at Awantipora, about 30 km from here, when a AF convoy was on way the to Awantipora airfield.

Three vehicles were damaged in the blast, he said adding there was no report of any injury or loss of life.

The spokesman said the incident occurred near a bridge, 3 km from the Srinagar-Jammu national highway towards the airfield.

The area was immediately cordoned off and a massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants responsible for the blast, he said.

This was the first such attack on IAF convoy in the area since the spread of militancy in 1989.

Inspector General of police K Rajinder Kumar told UNI that the IED planted in the car exploded before the militant could dash it with a security forces vehicle.

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