Srinagar, October 9
Four persons, including two Army personnel, were killed and 30 others, including 15 security personnel and 15 civilians, were injured in an explosion on the Srinagar-Baramula highway, near Pattan, in Baramula district this morning.

Elsewhere, five others, including three militants, were killed and two others injured in separate incidents in the valley since yesterday, while two suspects were apprehended and a hideout smashed by the security forces.

An IED fitted in a Maruti car exploded around 10.45 am at Hartrath, Hanjiveera, near Pattan, when a convoy of the security forces was passing by, a police spokesman said here. One jawan died on the spot, while 30 others were injured. The injured were hospitalised.

A spokesman of the Jaish-e-Mohammad told local media organisations that its suicide squad had undertaken the attack.

Sources said two Army personnel, including Capt Lal Singh, and a jawan, were among those killed in the explosion. The driver of the private bus carrying Army personnel as part of the convoy was also killed in the explosion. The militant driving the IED-fitted car was also blown up with it, taking the toll to four.

The police said two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Chowkibal area of Kupwara district yesterday. A militant of the Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed in an encounter with security forces in Hapatnar forests in Pulwama district.

Unidentified militants shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Lone in his house in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district last night.