Major tragedy averted, security forces defuse IED in Kashmir's Kupwara

Srinagar: A major tragedy was averted on Wednesday as security forces detected and later defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants, on Srinagar-Kupwara road in north Kashmir, police said.

A powerful IED was found planted by unidentified militants on the roadside near Wadhpora in Handwara, 70 km from here, which was later destroyed by the Bomb Disposal Squad, a police official said.

Timely detection of the IED frustrated militants' plan to set off an explosion on the busy road which is also used frequently by the security forces moving between Srinagar and Kupwara, he said.

Police have registered a case and started a manhunt to nab the militants who planted the IED on the roadside, the officials said. 

Meanwhile, a jawan was martyred in Kupwara district as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling targetting Indian posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The jawan was killed in firing from across the border in Machhal Sector in Kupwara district today. 

The Army has been retaliating strongly to unprovoked provocation from across the border and inflicted heavy damage to three Pakistan posts.