‘Vehicle-Borne IED blast’ averted in Pulwama

IGP credits ‘timely input, action’ for preventing major tragedy

Srinagar, May 28: Police on Thursday claimed to have averted an incident of a “vehicle-borne IED blast” with the timely detection of the device inside a car in southern Pulwama district’s Rajpora area.

A police officer told GNS that amid “specific intelligence” inputs, an improvised explosive device (IED) which was hid inside a Santro car was recovered at Ayengund area of Rajpora.

The vehicle, as per preliminary investigations suggest that it carried a fake number plate and its driver, suspected to be a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, left it near Ayengund while initially jumping a naka in the area, the officer said. “The militant or militants left the vehicle and escaped under the cover of darkness even as some gunshots were exchanged in the area,” the officer said. He said that the explosives device was destroyed by a Bomb Disposal Squad later.

Reports said window panes of some houses were damaged in areas in vicinity of the site where the explosive device was destroyed.

Confirming the recovery, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar (IPS) told GNS that a “major incident of a vehicle borne IED blast has been averted by the timely input and action by Pulwama Police, CRPF and Army.”

Asked about weight of the IED, the top police officer of Kashmir said that a forensic team is being sent to the area. “We will let you know accordingly,” he added.

(GNS)