Two killed, 15 wounded, arms and ammunition seized in J

Srinagar, May 4 (UNI) At least two people were killed and 15 others, including three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, wounded in a grenade attack in central Kashmir today.

Elsewhere in the state, a Police constable was critically wounded in a gun-battle while security forces seized a large cache of arms and ammuntion since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

He said militants hurled a hand grenade towards a vehicle carrying BSF personnel in central Kashmir district of Badgam this afternoon.

The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to at least 17 people, including three BSF men, they added.

Two of the wounded civilians -- Mohammad Jabbar from Sultanpora in Bihar, and Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, later succumbed to injuries on way to a hospital, the spokesman said.

The other wounded have been admitted to various hospitals where the condition of few of them was stated to be critical.

However, no militant outfit has so far claimed responsiblity for the blast.

A massive hunt has been launched in the area after the blast.

The spokesman said a fierce encounter erupted between militants and a joint search party of security forces and police at Lodhra village in Basantgarh area of Udhampur district this afternoon.

During the gunfight, a police constable was seriously wounded, he said, adding the encounter was still on when reports last came in.

Further details were awaited.

Unidentified masked men abducted Mohammad Ismail Lone from Hangal Booch in Anantnag district last evening.

Security forces seized eight UBGL, one night vision device, nine batteries, seven mts of cordex wire and 170 rounds from Garend Kalan village in Budgam district last evening.

In another operation, security forces seized 55 IED switches, four remote control circuits, 40 detonators and two primers at Dodi Surankote area of Poonch district in Jammu region last night.

UNI BAS FMH SI PC2011