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Five killed and five injured in J&K blast

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Five civilians were killed and an equal number were wounded in a massive mine blast at village Tatapani in Udhampur district of Jammu region early on Saturday morning.

Early on Saturday morning, a powerful improvised explosive device exploded near a spring locally called Tatapani (hot water spring) resulting in on the spot death of five civilians who were busy bathing. The water of the spring contains traces of sulphur, which the locals say, is useful in the treatment of skin diseases.

People from far off places visit the place to take a bath in the spring. The injured civilians were rushed to a hospital.

Jammu range police chief R V Raju told this correspondent that militants had planted two more IEDs near the springs. These exploded some time after the first, Raju said. However no one was wounded. Those killed in the first explosion have been identified as Mohammad Shafi, Farooq Ahmad, Jarnail Singh, Manzoor Ahmad and Abdul Rashid.

Raju said that when security forces and police rushed to the spot after the first explosion militants opened heavy fire on them. Security in the area has been further beefed up.

In another incident, one army soldier was killed and three others were seriously wounded in a powerful mine blast at near Pather post in Drass sector of Kargil on Friday, according to a police spokesman. The spokesman said that an army vehicle hit the landmine resulting in a massive explosion. One soldier, the spokesman said, died on the spot while three others were seriously wounded. The injured were rushed to hospital. The vehicle was extensively damaged, sources said.

This is the second blast in Drass sector this year after last year's fierce fighting in the area. The security in Drass sector has been increased.

Meanwhile, 23 persons, including 19 militants, and two security personnel were killed in heavy fighting across Jammu and Kashmir in the past 24 hours.

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Five killed in blast in Jammu

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