At least 15 persons were wounded in a powerful hand grenade explosion outside a police station at Kishtwar town of hilly Doda district in Jammu region.

The police said militants carried out a powerful grenade explosion near a police station in Kishtwar town late this evening.

"The grenade exploded in a lane near the police station injuring 15 persons," Dr. S.P.Vaid, inspector general of police Jammu zone said.

All the injured were admitted to the local hospital where doctors said some of the injured had reported with serious injuries.

The area was cordoned off and searched. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the Friday evening attack which came hours after five Hindu villagers were murdered and three critically wounded in the border district of Rajouri.