Several people injured in J&K car bomb blast

New Delhi: A day of violence in Kashmir as a car bomb blast occurred on the national Highway in Bijbhera in Anantnag district on Thursday. Several people are reported to be injured.

Reports say the car was parked near a security installation near a hospital. The explosion caused panic among people who fled the area, thinking militants had carried out a suicide attack, they said.

The impact of the blast was so powerful that it left the car in a completely mangled state and police was trying to ascertain the registration details and make of the vehicle, they said.

Meanwhile in Pattan in Baramullah district, security forces are engaged in an encounter with militants holed up in a house. The troops have cordoned off the area.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the blast which apparently went off prematurely. The identity of the deceased could not be ascertained as he was blown to pieces in the explosion, the officials said.

Meanwhile in Pattan in Baramullah district, security forces are engaged in an encounter with militants holed up in a house. The troops have cordoned off the area.

A police spokesman said three CRPF personnel were among those injured in the blast.

The CRPF personnel were deployed on road opening duties in the area and were hit by splinters in the explosion, the spokesman said.

He identified two of the injured jawans as constables Bajrang and Sanjeev, saying the identity of the third personnel could not be immediately ascertained.

With additional information from PTI

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