Srinagar: At least 10 civilians were injured after suspected militants lobbed a grenade in a crowded weekly market in Srinagar, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday afternoon.
The incident took place near TRC, a few hundred meters from city centre Lal Chowk leading to chaos among the vendors and buyers who throng the weekly Sunday market in the city centre.
While there was no statement from the Jammu and Kashmir Police yet, sources told ETV Bharat that 10 civilians were injured in the incident. The injured were rushed to the nearby SMHS hospital for treatment where they are said to be stable. The injured have been identified as Misba aged 17 years D/o Mohammad Amin Tantry R/o Nowgam, Azaan Kaloo, aged 17 years son of Javaid Ahmad Kaloo R/o Noorbagh, Habibullah Rather aged 50 years son of Abdul Jabbar R/o Kaloosa Bandipora, Altaf Ahmad Seer aged 21 years S/o Abdul Rashid R/o Amshipora, Shopian, Faizal Ahmad aged 16 years S/o Fayaz Ahmad Baig R/o Khanyar, Uzer Farooq Bhat S/o Farooq Ahmed Bhat R/o Pattan, Faizan Mushtaq aged 20 years S/o Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi R/o Pampore, Zahid Wani aged 19 years S/o Gulzar Ahmad Wani R/o Checkpora Kalan Nowgam, Gulam Muhammad Sofi aged 55 years S/o Gulam Ahmad R/o Chattabal and Sumaiya Jan aged 45 years W/o Zubair Ahmed Lone R/o Naidkhai, Sumbal.
Officials said the grenade was lobbed towards a CRPF bunker near Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar. It however missed the target and exploded in the crowd of the shoppers causing them splinter injuries.
"Many civilains are injured. They have been rushed to the hospital," official sources said, adding the police and security forces have cordoned the area.
The area witnesses huge rush of people on Sunday due to flea Market. Hundreds of vendors sell second hand clothes and other household items on Sunday in the market.
The attack follows a day after an encounter took place between security forces and a foreign militant in Khanyar area in Srinagar in which the militant was killed and two security forces personnel were injured.
A heavy posse of police rushed to the spot after the incident. Visuals showed armoured vehicles of the Jammu and Kashmir police patrolling the main square near the Tourist Reception Centre in the city centre.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack on “innocent shoppers” at the Sunday market. The CM also asked the security agencies to “do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear”.
In a post on X, Omar wrote, “The last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks & encounters in parts of the valley. Today’s news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the ‘Sunday market’ in Srinagar is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians. The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear”.
The last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks & encounters in parts of the valley. Today’s news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the ‘Sunday market’ in Srinagar is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians. The…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 3, 2024
Meanwhile Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to DGP, Nalin Prabhat and senior officials of the security agencies on grenade attack in Srinagar. An official said that the LG directed the security officials for an "effective and forceful response to punish the terrorists and their associates".
"The Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed the government's resolve not to allow terrorist elements to succeed in their nefarious designs. Terrorists targeting our citizens will have to pay a very heavy price for their actions. You have full freedom to crush terror outfits and leave no stone unturned to complete this mission," the Lieutenant Governor told the senior security officials," the official said.
The Lieutenant Governor also wished speedy recovery of those injured and directed that district administration should extend all possible assistance.
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