SRINAGAR: Three soldiers of the Indian Army were injured in a blast that took place inside the private vehicle they were travelling in the Shopian district of South Kashmir early on Thursday.
The Army said that one of the soldiers was critically injured in the blast that occurred in the Sedaw area of Shopian. The blast occurred inside the vehicle hired by the Army for transportation of its men.
“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,” Army said in a statement.
“While moving to the target area, 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,” the Army said. “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 soldiers are stable,” the Army said, “Affected area has been cordoned and all likely escape routes have been sealed. Search to nab the (militants) is in progress,” it added.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that the nature of the blast is being investigated.
“A #blast took place inside a private hired vehicle at Sedow, #Shopian. 03 soldiers injured & shifted to Hospital,” Kumar said on Twitter. “The nature and the source of the blast – whether it was due to a grenade or already planted IED (Improvised Explosive Device) inside the vehicle or malfunctioning of the battery – is being investigated.”