J&K: Army convoy targeted with IED blast in Pulwama; 9 personnel injured

New Delhi: An  improvised explosive device (IED) explosion targeted an Army convoy in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Monday evening, news agencies reported. Nine Army personnel were injured when militants triggered an IED fitted in a vehicle near an Army patrol in the militancy-hit Pulwama district, PTI quoted officials as saying. Terrorists targeted an Army convoy with an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

IED explosion on army convoy in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. No information on casualties so far: Officials. (PTI) pic.twitter.com/r5nJkiX0PV

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 17, 2019

The Army Casper of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was targeted by the IED explosion near Eidgah Arihal on the Arihal-Lassipora road in the south Kashmir's district. An encounter ensued between the security forces and the militants after the blast. There are no reports of any loss of life but the Army cordoned off the area and fired in air to maintain area domination, an official said. News agency ANI quoted the Indian Army as saying "Terrorists attempted to attack a mobile vehicle patrol of 44 RR with a vehicle based IED while the Army patrol was moving in general area Arihal in Pulwama this evening. The troops are safe, few minor injuries. Reports of attack on Army convoy are unfounded and baseless."

Indian Army: Terrorists attempted to attack a mobile vehicle patrol of 44 RR with a vehicle based IED while the Army patrol was moving in general area Arihal in Pulwama this evening. The troops are safe, few minor injuries. Reports of attack on Army convoy are unfounded&baseless. https://t.co/seA8QqbX5A

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

The site of the blast is 27 kms from the area where a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a suicide bomber on 14 February in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Earlier this year in February, a CRPF convoy was attacked in Pulwama by a suicide bomber, in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred, in the worst-ever terror attack in recent years. The attack was carried out by Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. India carried out preemptive attack and destroyed a terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot. In retaliation, Pakistan infringed India’s airspace and targeted Indian military instllations. In the aerial engagement that followed between the two countries India downed one of Pakistan’s F16 fighter jet.