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"It
was a deafening blast," an eyewitness says
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SRINAGAR,
October 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Five people were killed
and 15 injured in a powerful explosion and separate gun battle in
Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday October 19.
The
explosion in the apple-growing town of Sopore, 50 kilometers (31 miles)
north of the summer capital Srinagar killed one and injured 15,
including seven Border Security Force (BSF) members, a BSF spokesman
said told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Indian
security forces, meanwhile, shot dead four Muslim independence fighters
in the Chingus area of southern Rajouri district, police said.
Chingus
is situated near the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that
divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Saturday's
encounter is the third near the LoC since India and Pakistan announced
on Thursday October 17, they would be reducing their troop deployments
along their shared borders.
The
BSF spokesman could not immediately say what caused the blast, but
attributed the incident to an attack by Islamic fighters resisting
Indian rule in the disputed region.
The
dead man was identified as Riyaz Ahmed, a constable on his way to his
home town of Bandipora from Srinagar to spend the weekend with his
family.
"Seven
of our men are critically injured, and one of the vehicles they were
traveling in is also damaged," the spokesman said.
The
explosion also damaged some shops and sparked a minor fire.
At
least four injured civilians were being taken to Srinagar's main
hospital, the spokesman said.
"It
was a deafening blast that created panic in the town," resident
Ataur Rehman told AFP by telephone.
The
area has been sealed by the BSF, while counter-insurgency police
launched a manhunt for those who carried out the attack.
The
BSF spokesman said gun-shots were also heard in the area.
This
is the first major attack by suspected fighters in the Muslim-dominated
Kashmir valley since results of state assembly elections were declared
on October 10.
Meanwhile,
two people have been killed and four others wounded in shelling in the
Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir, Pakistani officials said Saturday.
The
clashes occurred Friday October 18, in Leepa valley, some 100 kilometers
(60 miles) southeast of Muzaffarabad, the capital of the northern third
of the disputed Himalayan region controlled by Islamabad.
"The
shelling started in the area at Friday noon and continued until late at
night," a military official said, accusing Indian troops of using
mortars and medium artillery.
"Two
people died on the spot and four were wounded and hospitalized,"
the official said.
He
said four houses were also burnt in shelling.
The
official said that the Pakistani troops had also responded.
India
on Wednesday October 16, decided to partially withdraw hundreds of
thousands troops from its border with Pakistan, but said deployment
along the LoC would remain unchanged.
Pakistan
said a day later it would also pull back hundreds of thousands of
soldiers to lower tensions between the two arch-foes.
The
LoC is the scene of regular artillery duels between the rival armies,
particularly after mid-December last year when tensions mounted
following an attack on the Indian parliament in New Delhi.
Pakistani
Kashmir officials say the latest deaths have pushed the toll on their
side of the dividing line since September 30 to 16.
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