3 CRPF personnel killed, seven others wounded in Kashmir blast

Srinagar, Jan 23 (UNI) Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and five others were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in south Kashmir this afternoon.

A CRPF spokesman told UNI that militants today detonated an IED at Probabad on Awantipora- Panzgam road when two CRPF vehicle were passing the area.

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 later died on way to hospital, he said, adding two more personnel-- constable driver S K Misra and wireless operator Ganesh--later died in the hospital. The condition of another havaldar is stated 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.

UNI