India, March 24 -- Panic gripped one of the border villages of Samba district in Jammu after a powerful blast ripped apart the main gate of the residence of a former sarpanch at village Gawala Talab of Ghagwal tehsil past midnight. Several houses in the close vicinity also bore the brunt of the blast, which took place around 1.07 am.

The local police authorities immediately rushed to the spot after the residents raised an alarm and dialled the police control room for immediate help. According to preliminary reports, the blast took place near the main gate of the residence of former sarpanch Jai Ram Sharma at Gawala Talab, some 10 km from the International Border in the Ghagwal sector of Samba district. At daybreak, senior police official...