Jammu, January 17
Two civilians were killed and eight others were wounded in an IED blast that rocked the busy Kanak Mandi here this evening.

According to the police, 10 persons were wounded when the IED, planted in a drain, exploded. One of them died while being taken to hospital. Eyewitness accounts said another person succumbed to his injuries later. Of the eight injured, the condition of three is still critical.

A shop was partially damaged and fire engines were pressed into service to extinguish the fire that engulfed the shop. The police and civilians joined hands in rescue operations.

The entire area was cordoned off and a manhunt was launched for the militants who had planted the IED.

In connection with the Republic Day celebrations, security arrangements have been tightened all over the city. Despite regular checking of vehicles and round-the-clock patrolling by security agencies, militants managed to cause an explosion, causing fresh panic in the city. Soon after the blast, all shopkeepers closed their business establishments.

Srinagar: Four militants and an alleged Army informer were killed while two civilians were injured in militancy-related incidents in the Kashmir valley since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Three militants were killed in an ongoing operation in the Bandipora area of north Kashmir’s Baramula district this afternoon, he said.

Acting on a tip-off, the Army, along with special operations group of the local police, cordoned off Khayar-Pazalpora in the wee hours, where they were fired upon by the militants, the spokesman said.

The security men retaliated, and in the ensuing gunbattle, three ultras were killed, and a civilian was injured, he added.

In another encounter, security forces shot a militant during search operations at Kalaroos in Kupwara district of north Kashmir last night, he said, adding that an AK assault rifle and some ammunition were seized from the slain ultra.

An alleged Army informer was killed when militants ambushed a security patrol in the Lolab area of Kupwara district last night. A pistol and some ammunition, which the ultras had left behind, were seized by the Army.