3 CRPF men killed, 6 wounded in Kashmir blasts ahead of Republic day

Srinagar, Jan 23 (UNI) Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and six others, including a BSF jawan, wounded as militants triggered a series of blasts two-days ahead of Republic Day celebrations in the Kashmir valley.

A CRPF spokesman told UNI that militants detonated an IED at Probabad on Awantipora- Panzgam road in south Kashmir district of Pulwama when two CRPF vehicle were passing the area this afternoon He said eight CRPF personnel were injured, two of them critically, in the blast. The injured were admitted to different hospitals.

One of the injured jawans, identified as Thomas, died on way to the hospital, he said, adding two more personnel-- constable driver S K Misra and wireless operator Ganesh -- died in the hospital. The condition of another havaldar is said to be critical.

A caller, who identified himself as spokesman of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), claimed responsibility for the blast.

He claimed several security force personnel were killed in the blast.

People of the area alleged security forces later beat up the residents and also damaged few houses.

Militants today made an abortive bid to blow up a Border Security Force (BSF) bunker at Bandipora in North Kashmir by hurling a hand-grenade at it, official sources said.

They said militants threw a hand grenade towards a BSF bunker at main chowk at Bandipora. However, it exploded just near it, injuring one jawan.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir police today averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants in the nearby area.

Official sources said, a police party during a routine patrolling noticed a powerful IED planted by militants at a crowded place in the main market, Bandipora.

They said the area was immediately cordoned off and traffic movement was suspended.

Later, a bomb disposal squad was summoned and the IED was defused without causing any damage.

Meanwhile, a report from south Kashmir said militants attacked a security force patrol party at Tral in Pulwama district late last night. Security forces also retaliated but the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

UNI