An officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, who is second-in-command of 46 Rashtriya Rifles, was slightly injured in the explosion at the highway township of Khawajabagh in Baramulla district town, 55 km from Srinagar, official sources said.
They said the IED was detonated barely 20 yards from the main gate of the army camp and set off around 1.40 pm when the officer was leaving for Srinagar in a convoy.
The sources said the ultras targeted the officer's vehicle, which also suffered damages in the explosion triggering panic in the north Kashmir township.
The area was immediately cordoned by police and security forces and a hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the blast, the sources said. In a statement to local news agencies, pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit claimed responsibility for the blast.
This was the second IED attack by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Baramulla district town this month.
On November 14, militants set off an IED near the local bus stand when an army vehicle carrying an officer was passing through the highway. A major, two of his guards and six civilians were injured in the blast.
