Kathua: A blast took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Hiranagar on Wednesday night. Following the blast a massive search operation has been launched in the area. According to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Mukesh Singh, a blast was heard near Border Police Post Sanyal near International Border under Hiranagar Police Station in the Kathua district.
Following the incident, the police team by SSP Kathua Shivdeep Singh Jamwal rushed to the site and started a search operation. The official further said no injury has been reported so far. As per the preliminary search it has observed that no movement of any article or human being has been found.
No possibility of infiltration
However, SSP Kathua Shivdeep Singh ruled out any possibility of infiltration across the border. He also said that further investigation will be launched in the morning. “We received information that there has been a blast here. The villagers told us that it was a very loud explosion. A search operation was launched and the exact location has been traced. The bomb disposal squad has collected the samples. Search operation will be conducted in the morning also,” said SSP Kathua.
Panic among the villagers
A local resident Ram Lal Kalia who is living in the Sanyal village said that the blast created panic among the villagers. Further investigation is underway. ''Around 9.30 pm on Wednesday we heard an explosion. I informed the post in-charge,'' he said. The blast site was located after one-and-half hours, he said, adding that a big crater was found in an agriculture field.
Live grenade seized
Following the search operation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered a live grenade on Thursday morning from the area where a blast took place. According to the SSP the terrorist might to have hurled the grenade due to the presence of security personnel.
“There was a blast yesterday. Investigation underway. A search operation was conducted in the areas near the police post. A live grenade is seized. The terrorist appears to have hurled the grenade due to the presence of security personnel,” said Kathua SSP Jamwal.
Prima facie it was IED blast
The SSP, who led the search operation in the area and adjoining border areas this morning, said it was a high intensity blast. The SSP said prima facie it was an IED blast.
As the site of the blast is close to a police post, there is a possibility that the police post was the intended target. ''It points out towards that. On Wednesday, our presence was more in this area, that is why they may have hurled grenade and after that they triggered IED blast, '' Jamwal added.
(With agencies input)
