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3 killed, 2 hurt in Tral mine blast

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Three civilians were killed and two others were injured when a powerful mine blew up in the main market at Tral in south Kashmir, 40km from Srinagar.

Meanwhile, two policemen and a junior commissioned officer of the army were among seven persons killed in unabated violence in the last 36 hours across the Kashmir valley.

Police said two militants and the JCO were killed yesterday in a fierce gun battle at Village Batpora Ganderbal near Srinagar. Two houses were also destroyed in the gun battle.

Troops had laid a cordon around the village and mounted a search during which they came under heavy fire. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot and the cordon was tightened.

Extremists gunned down two policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector, in the main vegetable market in Srinagar late last afternoon. The militants opened fire from close range on the two policemen who were on duty in the area. The militants also snatched a rifle.

Senior police and security force officers rushed to the spot. The area was cordoned off and a search mounted for the killers. Security in the city was also stepped up following the renewed attacks.

But late this afternoon a powerful mine planted near the State Bank of India's Tral branch exploded, killing three persons on the spot and injuring two others seriously. The injured men, identified as Ghulam Mohammad Shah and Jehangir, were moved to the Soura Medical Institute in Srinagar.

Police said the explosion shook the entire Tral town and scared residents. Senior police and security force officers rushed to the area with reinforcements. No one has yet owned responsibility for the blast.

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