The Hizbul Mujahideen on Sunday claimed responsibility for the blast that killed 12 people, including 11 security men, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A caller identifying himself as a spokesman of the outfit told news organisations in Srinagar that activists of the outfit detonated the improvised explosive device on Saturday night.

Ten army personnel, including a major, a special police officer and the driver of the vehicle were killed in the blast.

He claimed that the terrorists escaped after taking six Kalashnikov rifles, one light machine gun and three wireless sets from the slain personnel.