Four cops killed in IED blast in J & K Sopore

Four cops killed in IED blast in J & K Sopore; Mehbooba Mufti condemns incident

Four policemen were killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Sopore on Saturday.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir Range, VK Birdhi told DNA that terrorists detonated the IED when cops were deployed in the area.

"We have lost four boys in the incident", said Birdhi.

Security forces have sealed off the area and a massive hunt has been launched to the terrorists responsible for the incident. Reinforcements have also been rushed to augment the forces on the ground to hunt down the militants.

The IED blast has occurred two days after terrorists killed a BJP worker Arif Ahmad Sofi when he was strolling out of his house at Sopore.

This is the first major incident of 2018 in which security forces have suffered civilian casualties in the valley.

Last month, three Jaish e Mohammad terrorists stormed a CRPF camp, killing four soldiers Three terrorists were later exposed to the 36-hour-long operation.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that he was pained by the news about the killing of four policemen in an IED explosion in Sopore township of Baramulla district.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "Very sad news from #Sopore. May the four brave J & K police officers killed in the line of duty today rest in peace." Four policemen on patrol duty were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants went off in Sopore town in north Kashmir today.

Militants had planted the IED near a shop in a lane between the 'Chotta Bazaar' and 'Bada Bazaar' in Sopore in Baramulla district and detonated it when policemen reached the scene, an official said