Police said the incident occurred in Singapora village, 35 km from Srinagar, in the northern district of Baramulla. Four soldiers and the driver of a civilian truck were killed.

The convoy was passing through the strategic Srinagar-Uri national highway when the suicide bomber driving a car struck a bus transporting the soldiers.

Four soldiers and the civilian, whose truck happened to be at the spot, were killed instantly. The suicide bomber is also believed to have died.

About 25 people, including some 15 soldiers, were injured, a senior police officer said. An earlier report said the attack took place in Hanjura village.

The bus was completely destroyed. The entire area has been sealed and traffic on the highway suspended.

The injured were hurriedly shifted to the Army's base hospital in Srinagar for treatment.

PTI adds: Seven persons, six militants and one Army jawan, were killed in an encounter in Churachandpur district of Manipur late Friday night.

An Army column rushed to Khonkhai area, about 70 km south of Imphal in the district, after getting specific information about the presence of militants and launched a massive combing operation, official sources said in Imphal.

As the personnel combed the interiors of the hilly area, militants suspected to be members of banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) opened fire from their hideout and a heavy exchange of fire followed, the sources said.

Six militants and one Army jawan were killed on the spot.

Three activists, suspected to be members of PLA, were arrested during the operation.