Wednesday, May 11 2005 16:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Militants today (May 11, 2005) carried out a massive car-bomb blast using around 20 kg of RDX killing a Government official and injuring about 30 people, including a CRPF commandant and six jawans in the bustling Lal Mandi -Gojibagh area in Srinagar.

The explosion took place at around 10: 45 hrs outside a private clinic on the main road when there heavy rush of civilians and security vehicles.

Seven vehicles including two belonging to CRPF vehicles were damaged and nearly a dozen residential houses, a school and a bank suffered cracks as a result of the explosion.

Javid Ahmad Bhat, a Sales Tax official was killed on the spot and nearly 30 people were injured in the explosion, Deputy Inspector-General of Police H K Lohia said.

Pakistan-backed al-Nasireen outfit claimed responsibility for the blast, saying the CRPF was its target.

Unofficial sources, however, placed the number of injured at 50 of which the condition of eight was stated serious. The injured have been moved to hospitals.

The DIG said the militants had parked an explosive-laden vehicle on the main road and detonated it when the morning rush grew.