Soldier killed, two others injured in Shopian blast

SHOPIAN — A soldier was killed while two others were injured in a blast inside a vehicle in Sedow area of Shopian on Thursday, officials said.

An official told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the blast took place inside a private vehicle at Sedow in which three soldiers of 15 Gadwal were injured.

He added that the trio was shifted to District Hospital Shopian from where they were shifted to 92 Base Hospital Srinagar. The official identified the injured trio as Ajab Singh, Parveen Singh and Pawan Rawat.

He further added that Pawan Rawat has succumbed to injuries at 92 Base Hospital.

Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that the nature and source of the blast is being investigated.

“A blast took place inside a privately hired vehicle at Sedow, Shopian. Three soldiers were injured and were shifted to a hospital. The nature and source (blast due to grenade or already planted IED inside the vehicle or malfunctioning of battery) of the blast is being investigated and will be shared,” a police spokesman said while quoting IGP Kashmir.

An official said that at approximately 3:00 AM, based on specific intelligence, an operation was launched from Sedow and a search was initiated in the general area Patitohalan. “While moving to the target area, at approximately a km from Sedow, an explosion took place in the civil hired vehicle, being used by the team, resulting in injuries to three Indian Army soldiers,” he said.

“The blast is very likely to be from either an IED or a grenade or a battery malfunctioning in the vehicle. The details are being ascertained,” he said.