Grenade attack near Hazratal
6 devotees, 2 cops hurt on Meraj day
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, Nov 20 — Eight persons, including six devotees and two jawans, were injured when militants hurled a grenade near the outer wall of the Hazratbal shrine here this afternoon.

The injured have been admitted to hospital.

The grenade, targeted at a vehicle of the BSF, exploded on the road between the outer wall of the shrine and parked vehicle.

The explosion took place soon after the Friday prayers, attended by thousands of Muslims following Meraj-e-Alam. Lakhs of devotees have been visiting the Hazratbal shrine and other shrines this week on the occasion of the Meraj, the day the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven. Special prayers were offered during the observance of the auspicious day.

According to the police no damage was caused in today's explosion. The Friday prayers had been offered peacefully and it was after the prayers that the explosion took place. The devotees were coming out of the shrine. This is for the first time in recent years that the militants have attempted to create panic among the pilgrims especially on such an auspicious occasion, the police said.

Another grenade explosion took place in the Batamaloo area of the Capital city on Friday. However, no damage was caused in the explosion. The police said the grenade was targetted at a picket of the security forces. It missed the intended target and exploded on the road at about 12-50 p.m. No one was injured in the explosion.

Meanwhile, five persons, including two militants and a policeman, have been killed and six wounded in militant-related violence in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Meanwhile, tension gripped Rainawari locality of downtown Srinagar today following the death of a teenaged boy Shafat Ahmad.

Shafat, a class VII student, was arrested by the BSF from his house at Naidyar locality of Rainawari eight days ago and was handed over to the police last evening, official sources said, adding the injured boy was subsequently released and was taken to Soura Medical Institute by his family.

The victim died early today, the sources said, adding the death sparked widespread protest in the area with people taking to streets and observing a complete shutdown demanding action against the securitymen responsible for the alleged "custodial torture".

Militants attacked the house of a National Conference activist, bombed a village numberdar’s house and targetted security forces with grenades during the period.

A self-styled group commander of Al-Fateh Force was killed in an armed clash with security forces in the Malpora area of Badgam district last night. Two AK assault rifles, a grenade launcher, eight grenades and four AK magazines with 76 rounds were seized.

The security forces also shot dead a suspected unidentified militant at Gudora-Banihal in Doda district.

A policeman, Nazir Ahmad Mir was hit by a bullet at the Police Lines at Batmaloo in Srinagar today. Mir was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police said, adding the police was investigating the incident.

The spokesman said the militants shot dead, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Teli after forcibly intruding into his house at Pazalpora in the Bandipora area of Baramulla district late last night. The victim was a shopkeeper.

Militants fired towards the house of a National Conference activist, Ghulam Mohammad Ganai at Balpora village in Badgam district last evening.

A bomb exploded in the house of a village numberdar, Mohammad Yousuf Malik, at Soibug-Darmuna in Badgam district last night. None was hurt.