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National

Seven killed, 23 injured in IED blast

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: At least seven army men were killed and 23 injured, some of them seriously, when militants exploded an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting an Army convoy on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway on Saturday.

In other incidents, six militants were killed across Kashmir valley in the past 24 hours.

Brigadier K. Muthana Commander of 10 Sector Rashtriya Rifles said the IED planted on the roadside at Narbal was triggered possibly by a remote control device. “The Army convoy carrying transit troopers was coming from Baramulla to Srinagar. The bus was carrying 30 Army personnel. Seven died on the spot. The rest were injured, some of them critically” said Brig. Muthana who rushed to the spot soon after blast. He said that it was not a security lapse and Army would investigate the matter. “Violence as such is a never ending process and militants always try to do something when they see easy targets.”

The bus was completely damaged and the blast created a huge crater on the road. There was no civilian casualty. It was one of the worst attacks on the Army since 2005.

The injured were rushed to the military hospital in Pattan and later airlifted to the Base Hospital in Srinagar. Sources said the condition of at least five jawans was critical. The Hizbul Mujahideen has owned responsibility.for the attack.

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