By IANS,
Jammu, : At least five civilians, including a woman, were killed in a powerful landmine blast planted by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, two days ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, police said.
Five people were also injured when the Tata pickup, the victims were travelling in, hit a landmine in mountainous Marha area of Poonch district, about 230 km northwest of Jammu.
According to the police, five people died on the spot. The injured were rushed to an army hospital in Surankot.
Police said guerrillas could have laid the landmine to trap the security personnel in this “strategically important” area.
Voting in Poonch was held in the first phase April 16. The neighbouring Udhampur-Doda constituency votes in the second phase Thursday.
Violence in the terror-ravaged state has escalated ahead of the polls with authorities saying infiltration from Pakistan has also increased in recent times.