Srinagar: An army soldier was killed and two others were injured in a blast at Sedaw area of Shopian district in south Kashmir on Thursday.
“At approximately 0300 a.m., based on specific intelligence, an operation was launched from (Sedaw) COB to lay cordon and search in general area Patitohalan. While moving to the target area, at approximately a km from (Sedaw), an explosion took place in the civil hired vehicle, being used by the team, resulting in injuries to three Indian Army soldiers,” army said in a statement. “The blast is very likely to be from either an IED or a grenade or a battery malfunctioning in the vehicle. Details are being ascertained.”
The injured personnel, the army said, were immediately shifted and given first aid at District Hospital, Shopian and thereafter evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar. “One soldier is critical while two other injured are stable,” it said, adding, “affected area has been cordoned and all likely escape routes have been sealed.” The army said search to nab the (militants) is in progress.”
A defence ministry spokesman here told that critically soldier was shifted to Udhampur where he succumbed to the injuries.
Earlier IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar in a tweet said a blast took place inside a private hired vehicle at Sedow, #Shopian. 03 soldiers injured & shifted to Hospital. Nature & source (blast due to grenade or already planted IED inside vehicle or malfunctioning of battery) of blast being investigated & will be shared: IGP Kashmir