The grenade exploded outside the vehicle injuring half a dozen people. (Representational photo)

A brave Special Police Officer (SPO) today threw back a grenade that the terrorists had flung at a security vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore district, averting a major tragedy and saving lives of 15 colleagues who were travelling with him.The grenade, however, exploded outside injuring two policemen and four civilians, a police officer said."The alert SPO threw out the grenade to safer place and saved lives of dozen police, CRPF and civilians in Sopore," a police spokesman said.According to police, terrorists threw the grenade at a security forces vehicle in the main market near the State Bank of India branch and it entered the vehicle."We have registered a case, investigation is underway," SSP Harmeet Singh said.The injured were taken to a nearby hospital where their condition is said to be stable, a police officer said.Soon after the grenade attack, police and paramilitary forces launched a search operation to nab the militants responsible for the grenade attack.

Meanwhile, a terrorist was shot dead in the morning during an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector. A heavy gunfight started after the Army saw a group of terrorists moving in the forest at Kalgai village near the Line of Control. Two to three terrorists are suspected to be trapped there, Army sources said.