Jammu: A special police officer (SPO) was killed and eight security force personnel were wounded, two critically, in an explosion set off by militants in Bani forest area in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on May 11, police said.

Police assisted by Army had launched a search operation in Rolka forest area in Bani of Kathua district, following an attack on a police post early on May 11, superintendent of police (SP) Kathua M K Sinha said.

During the operation, an SPO was killed, after militants, who were hiding in the nearby forest, triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) blast around 11.00 am (IST), Sinha said, adding eight others were injured in the incident.

Additional troops have been rushed to the area to track down the militants responsible for the incident, the SP said.

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The killed SPO has been identified as Ashok Kumar and those critically wounded included assistant sub- inspector Tarseem Lal and an Army 'hawaldar', he said.

PTI