18 Kg IED destroyed along Bandipora-Sopore highway

Srinagar, Oct 15: Security forces on Saturday averted a major tragedy by detecting and destroying an 18-kilogram improvised explosive device (IED) along the Bandipora-Sopore road in north Kashmir.
Army’s Public Relations Officer (Defence) Col Emron Musavi said that based on intelligence received from Jammu and Kashmir Police and further corroborated by Indian Army, regarding presence of an IED in Astingoo along Bandipora-Sopore road.
“A joint operation was launched by Army and Police on the intervening night of 14 and 15 Oct 2022. Search parties were immediately deployed and an area of 300 meters radius was cordoned by security forces,” he said.
Col. Musavi said during the search, the presence of an IED was positively confirmed at about 08.35 AM on Saturday by the search party.
“The IED was in close proximity to Bandipora-Sopore road. The bomb disposal squad was rushed into the location to defuse the IED. Later they destroyed the IED in situ without any collateral damage,” he said.
Col. Musavi said the Bandipora-Sopore highway is an important line of communication for civil traffic as well as for the Army and CAPF convoys.
“Security forces with their swift operation have averted a major terror plot by timely neutralization of the IED. The traffic was later resumed on the highway,” he said.