SRINAGAR, 18 August 2007 — Two Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers were killed and six others wounded when militants targeted the cavalcade of a senior CRPF officer with an improvised explosive device (IED) in south Kashmir yesterday evening. Police said militants detonated a powerful IED in village Kawni 50 km from here when the cavalcade of the commanding officer (CO) of 130 BN CRPF was on move in the area.
“Two of the officers guards were killed on the spot while six others were wounded in the massive explosion that destroyed the escort vehicle of the commanding officer who however had a miraculous escape,” S.K. Manmohan, inspector general of CRPF, told this correspondent here.
The injured CRPF troopers were evacuated to army base hospital here for treatment. The area was searched by the CRPF and police. However no one was detained.
No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion.
In another development, three people were killed and 20 others wounded when an overloaded minibus carrying devotees from the Hazratbal shrine turned turtle near here yesterday.
The minibus, returning after the special Friday prayers at Hazratbal, overturned. “Three people died on the spot while another eight sustained serious injuries in the accident. All the injured have been shifted to hospital,” said Javaid Ahmad Koul, superintendent of police (Hazrtabal).
