Srinagar: Eleven security personnel, including an Army Major, and a civilian were killed when militants blew up their vehicle in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police official said today (Dec 5, 2004).

The hired civilian vehicle in which the security personnel were travelling was blown up late last night at Naina-Batapora, 40 km from Srinagar, when an Improvised Explosive Device planted by militants in an underground pipe exploded, DIG South Kashmir Ravinder Kotwal told sources in Srinagar.

The deceased included Major Lalit- the company commander, nine jawans, Special Police Officer Imitiaz Ahamed and the civilian driver.

The security personnel, after taking part in an operation in Khanabal area of Anantnag district, had taken a non-traditional route to Zainapura and a search party was sent to locate them after they did not turn up at their destination.