SRINAGAR: At least four policemen were killed by a mine in India's insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state on Saturday, officials said.

A police team was patrolling the main market area the town of Sopore, located near state capital Srinagar, when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off.

Three shops were also destroyed in the massive explosion, senior police officials said.

State chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed her condolences to the victims' families in a message.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The area was cordoned off and a search operation was luanched.

Media reports said the market had been closed owing to a strike called by separatists.