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Blast, violence claim 17 in Kashmir

Mukhtar Ahmed in Srinagar

At least eight people were killed and two others critically injured in a powerful bomb blast near army range area at Ranipora in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag last evening.

Elsewhere in the valley, five militants, a security jawan and two Jamat Islami activists were among nine people killed in the past 24 hours.

A police spokesperson said eight people were killed and two others injured at Ranipora near Achabal in Anantnag district last evening when a bomb they were handling exploded.

Those killed were villagers Fayaz Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai, Sheeraz Ahmad Ganai, Shakeel Ahmad Ganai, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Kuchay, Abdul Rehman Bhat and one unidentified person who had entered the range area.

A defence ministry spokesperson said the incident occurred when army personnel were destroying old and unexploded shells and ammunition inside the identified range area. He said that villagers of the area were warned that the army was going to destroy the unexploded shells and ammunition inside the range area a week ago.

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