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Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
Nine police personnel were wounded, six of them seriously, in a powerful blast at Haliyn near Bhaderwah in Doda district late on Wednesday afternoon.
Senior police officials have rushed to the spot.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag district G A Peer escaped an attempt on his life on the outskirts of the town in south Kashmir on Wednesday afternoon.
Official sources speaking to rediff.com said Peer was returning from his home, when an improvised explosive device was triggered.
The explosion, however, narrowly missed his bullet-proof car. But the escort car accompanying Peer's car was partially damaged.
In another incident, seven persons, including five Hindu villagers were killed and 20 others, including five soldiers and three policemen, were wounded in two separate incidents across Jammu and Kashmir, where Independence Day celebrations were held under the tightest-ever security on Wednesday.
Police said militants on Saturday night gunned down five Hindu villagers at the Sahar Mahore village in the Udhampur district of Jammu region.
Sources said militants opened fire on the villagers inside the home resulting in on the spot death of five persons, including three women and two men.
One girl, who was seriously wounded, was shifted to a hospital.
Senior army officers, along with reinforcements, rushed to the area on Sunday morning. A senior police officer said two Muslim villagers, who had gone to recover the bodies from the spot died after a grenade lying near the bodies exploded.
The villagers had rushed to the spot as the news about the killing of the Hindu villagers spread.
The incident comes close on heels to the killing of 15 Hindu villagers in Doda and the Jammu railway station attack, after which the state government had declared the whole of the state, barring the two districts of Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region, 'disturbed'.
Earlier, it was a curfew-like situation in Srinagar, where hundreds of heavily armed paramilitary troops had laid a virtual siege around the city.
Not a soul was visible on the deserted streets patrolled heavily by the Border Security Force. The BSF had deployed troops all over the city and no untoward incident was reported in the summer capital.
The state chief minister Farooq Abdullah arrived in the deserted Bakshi stadium under heavy security.
He was escorted to the stadium by Black Cat commandos and the Special Services Group.
His motorcade, which drove on the deserted streets, comprised of nearly two dozen bullet-proof vehicles.
The stadium was heavily guarded jointly by the BSF, the Central Reserve Police Force and the police.
All roads leading to the stadium were sealed by the security forces.
The chief minister unfurled the National flag in the stadium, inspected the parade and took salute. Ministers, senior state government, police and paramilitary officials attended the function in the stadium.
In his message Dr Farooq said that the six districts of Jammu had to be declared as disturbed area in view of 'inhuman acts perpetrated by militants'.
"These powers were necessary to enable security forces to take on militants with heavy hand. Grant of special powers does not amount to a license to security forces but these are to be exercised judiciously. We have teach a lesson to the neighbour," said Abdullah.
The chief minister reiterated his resolve to 'seek restoration of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir'
He added, "A realisation has dawned at the Centre and it has expressed its willingness to talk on this vital issue."
"We want to press our reasonable and justified demand in peaceful manner as we believe in ballot rather than bullet," said Abdullah.
The BSF chief in Kashmir G S Gill took salute in the historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar and later unfurled the flag on the clock tower.
He inspected the impressive parade at the city centre.
The Lal Chowk function was attended by senior BSF officials including RP Singh the deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force.
Reports from Jammu said the Independence Day function in the Maulana Azad stadium was held in under tight security.
The Independence Day function was also held at all the district headquarters across the state.
EARLIER REPORT: 7 villagers gunned down in Udhampur
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