8 injured in Anantnag grenade attack

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, July 29

At least eight persons, including four CRPF personnel, were injured in a grenade attack carried out by suspected militants here today.

The attack was carried out near the Women’s College near the Khannabal-Pahalgam road in Anantnag around 12:15 pm.

The Khannabal-Pahalgam road is the main route for Amarnath pilgrims travelling to the holy cave via Pahalgam. Anantnag SSP Abdul Jabbar ruled out that the attack was aimed at disrupting the yatra.

“The CRPF men who were part of security for the yatra were the target. However, we do not think that the yatra was on the radar of the militants,” he said.

Panic gripped the area as the hand grenade exploded with a loud noise and people ran for cover, eyewitnesses said. Police reports confirmed that eight persons were injured in the grenade attack.

They were immediately rushed to the District Hospital for treatment. “All of them are undergoing treatment and are stable,” Jabbar said.

The injured civilians were identified as Abdul Majeed Mir and Abid Ali Lone of Anantnag, Gulam Mohammad Wani of Kokernag and Bashir Ahmad Allai of Shangus. The injured CRPF men were identified as Nisar Ahmad, Chaman Lal Sharma, Chander and Sunil Dure. All of them were posted at the 96 Battalion of the CRPF. Ashish Jha, CRPF spokesperson said all injured CRPF men were stable.

Following the attack, a huge posse of police and CRPF personnel reached the spot. Shops and other commercial establishments were shut by then. The police carried out random searches in an effort to nab the attackers.

This was the second grenade attack in Anantnag in less than a week. On July 25, one person was killed and five injured after suspected militants hurled a hand grenade in the busy Achabal Adda area of the town.