Srinagar: Security forces on Saturday defused an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected militants on a roadside in north Kashmir's Handwara village averting a major tragedy.
Reports said a major tragedy was averted when the security forces detected and defused an IED planted on the road in Watain area of Handwara in north Kashmir Kupwara district.
SSP Handwara Ashish Mishra said an IED was found and later diffused by the security forces. The IED was detected jointly by army , CRPF and SOG Handwara.
Since past few months, security forces have diffused more than four IEDs in Kashmir. A senior army officer recently claimed that troops were alert and were diffusing the IEDs beforehand to avoid causalities to the civilians and security forces.
A senior security expert said night patrolling and area domination was intensified across Kashmir, especially on the highways.
“Road Opening Parties (RoPs) are doing extra bit to diffuse IEDs and other explosives before they are triggered off the militants,” the official had stated.