OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: Four policemen were killed Saturday in a bomb blast set off by suspected militants in Indian held Kashmir, police and reports said, marking a deadly start to the new year in the restive valley.

They were on patrol when the improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Sopore, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from held Srinagar.

“IED blast in Sopore. Four policemen martyred,” Jammu and Kashmir police said on Twitter.

Last week four Indian soldiers were killed in an attack by armed militants who stormed a paramilitary camp outside held Srinagar.—AFP