A civilian was killed and six others, including two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, were wounded when suspected militants exploded a grenade near a mobile security bunker at Pulwama in south Kashmir on Friday. The security forces cordoned off the area to track down the attackers.
Police sources said that unidentified militants hurled a grenade towards a CRPF vehicle at Murran Chowk in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside scattering splinters all around. The iron splinters hit at least seven people — five civilians and two CRPF personnel — causing them injuries. They were immediately rushed to nearby district hospital where one civilian Muhammad Ayub Wani was declared dead on arrival. Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Munirul Islam said that a splinted had pierced Wani’s heart, killing him instantly.
Murran Chowk is one of the busiest streets in the southern town, which has emerged as one of the most volatile areas in Kashmir for the past several years. Sources said the other injured persons were stable. The security forces cordoned off the area after the attack but no arrests were made.
last week militants of Hizbul Mujahideen ambushed an Army cavalcade returning from a cordon and search operation in the adjacent Shopian area killing three Rashtriya Rifles troops and injuring five others including two officers. A woman was also killed in the incident.
Security forces say that Hizbul Mujahideen and lashkar-e-Tayyeba militants were operating in the south Kashmir region in close coordination. They are planning and executing attacks on security forces with the help of over-ground workers whose number have swelled during the public uprising last year triggered by the killing of Hizmul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani.
Meanwhile, clshes erupted in north Kashmir’s Sopore town after the culmination of Friday’s congregational prayers. Police took senior Hurriyat Conferece leader Shabir Shah into custody when he arrived in south Kashmir’s Tral area to visit the home of slain militant commander Burhan Wani. Shah was detained for a longer period during the unrest in Kashmir and was recently relocated to his home where his movements have been largely restricted.