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Journalism of Courage
In the first major Improvised Explosive Device attack against Army personnel in 2008, militants on Saturday triggered a massive blast that ripped through a bus carrying them leaving nine troops dead and at least a dozen jawans injured.
An Army spokesperson said nine Army personnel were killed in the IED explosion that was triggered by militants at Narbal crossing on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway at around 4:00 pm.
The spokesperson said nearly a dozen other jawans were injured in the blast that ripped through the bus which was taking them to Baramulla from Srinagar.
Unconfirmed reports said the number of injured was more than 30 and the death toll likely to increase.
The impact of the blast was so severe that the bus was reduced to a scrap of iron.
According to a senior police official who visited the spot, the militants had placed the IED by the roadside, taking advantage of the road widening work going on in the area.
Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahiddin has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A caller identifying himself as the spokesman of Hizbul Mujahiddin told a local news agency that its cadres carried out the attack.
