Hizb ultras ambush BSF convoy, 4 killed

The explosion at 8.30 am extensively damaged one of the vehicles of the convoy.

Militants struck again at 4.25 pm triggering another IED blast when the convoy was held up at a nearby place after the first explosion, killing one security personnel and injuring 13 others.

Three of the victims have been identified as Nanda Kunthal of Kerala, Ujrahin Linga of Orissa and constable Pandrajan of Maharashtra.

All the injured were admitted to Udhampur hospital where the condition of 15 personnel was described as critical and 19 were discharged after first aid.

Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the blast. Its spokesman Salim Hashmi said in Islamabad "Until India accepts our demand (for inclusion of Pakistan in talks to resolve Kashmir issue) we will intensify our attacks on Indian security forces and military installations."

Earlier, within 48 hours of calling off of the ceasefire Hizbul Mujahideen, a power car bomb had exploded in Srinagar on August 10 killing 13 people.

Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Toiba militant outfits have warned of attacks on security forces and vital installations in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP today demanded dismissal of the state government headed by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for its “failure to maintain law and order and provide security to citizens”.

"The Central Government should intervene in the deteriorating situation in the state and dismiss the present state government, if needed," state unit president Daya Krishan Kotwal, told reporters here.

To a question, he said "Abdullah cannot be trusted beyond a limit as he could not bring peace in the state during last eleven years of turmoil".

He also demanded “free hand of army” in tackling insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and said security needs to be further beefed up to instill confidence among the people of the state.

Referring to the demand of trifurcation of the state by some organisations, Kotwal said "this demand has come up due to continued discrimination by the successive governments towards Jammu and Ladakh regions".

However, he said that his party favoured in creation of regional councils for Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh so as to ensure equitable justice for these regions.