Twenty-three persons including four policemen were wounded in a powerful explosion in Banihal town of hilly Ramban district in Jammu on Friday evening.

Police said militants carried out a powerful hand grenade explosion near the Jamia mosque in Banihal town, 120 km from Srinagar, late on Friday.

"The grenade exploded near the mosque injuring 23 persons. All the injured, 13 of them in serious condition, were shifted to the local hospital for treatment," a senior police officer said.

Attending doctors at Banihal hospital have referred the 13 seriously injured persons to Srinagar for specialised treatment.

"The area was immediately cordoned off and searches conducted, but no arrests made so far," he added.

No group has yet owned responsibility for the attack.