Srinagar: Suspected terrorists lobbed a grenade at a CRPF bunker near a crowded flea market in the heart of the city here on Sunday, injuring at least 11 civilians, officials said.
The attack, which took place near a heavily guarded complex housing All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendra near the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), comes a day after security forces killed a top Pakistani commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the Khanyar locality of downtown Srinagar.
A senior police officer said the terrorists hurled the grenade at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bunker near the TRC. “However, the grenade missed the intended target and landed on the roadside, injuring 11 people,” the officer said.
The blast took place close to the weekly flea market, popularly known as the Sunday market, which is thronged by thousands. The explosion caused panic in the area and sent shoppers scrambling for cover.
The officer said the attack was “borne out of the desperation of terrorists following Saturday’s killing of the LeT commander”.
The injured, including some women, were immediately removed to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment. Only a few are now undergoing treatment at the hospital as most of them needed only first aid for their minor wounds and were subsequently discharged, a doctor treating the injured said.
The injured have been identified as Misba Jan (17), daughter of Mohammad Amin Tantry of Nowgam; Azaan Kaloo (17), son of Javaid Ahmad Kaloo of Noorbagh; Habibullah Rather (50) of Kaloosa Bandipora; Altaf Ahmad Seer (21), son of Abdul Rashid of Amshipora, Shopian; Faizal Ahmad (16), son of Fayaz Ahmad Baig of Khanyar; Uzair Farooq Bhat, son of Farooq Ahmed Bhat of Pattan; Faizan Mushtaq (20), son of Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi of Pampore; Zahid Wani (19), son of Gulzar Ahmad Wani of Checkpora Kalan Nowgam; Gulam Muhammad Sofi (55), son of Gulam Ahmad of Chattabal; Sumaiya Jan (45), wife of Zubair Ahmed Lone of Naidkhai, Sumbal.
Following the blast, a joint team of police and CRPF immediately cordoned the area and began a search to nab the assailants.
Taking advantage of the massive crowd of Sunday market, attackers were able to escape, a senior police officer from Kothibagh police station told ‘Kashmir Images’
Nonetheless, he asserted that security agencies have stepped up their efforts, and are analyzing CCTV footage and using other scientific methods to identify the terrorists who escaped taking advantage of the crowd.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Chuadhary, accompanied by Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Masood today visited SMHS hospital here to inquire about the health of civilians injured in the grenade attack, an official spokesperson informed.
He said during the visit, the Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister enquired about the condition of the injured. They directed the hospital authorities to provide them with the best possible treatment.
They also interacted with the injured persons and assured them of the best possible medical care.
MLA Sonawari Hilal Akbar Lone and other officers also accompanied the ministers during the visit.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir V. K. Birdi also visited the hospital to check on the condition of civilians injured in the grenade blast.
