Udhampur, July 18
At least 36 persons, including one assistant commandant and a sub-inspector of the 89 Battalion of the CRPF, were injured in a grenade attack at Banihal in Ramban district on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway today.
Eight students, including six girls, also suffered injuries in the explosion which occurred at the bus stand near Government Higher Secondary School.
Eyewitnesses told The Tribune that, at around 1.15 pm, some unidentified militants, hiding behind a vehicle, threw a grenade at a CRPF Gypsy, which was on patrol duty to provide security for Amarnath pilgrims.
The injured included assistant commandant Suresh Kumar Yadav of Uttar Pradesh and sub-inspector Roop Singh Meena from Rajasthan.
“Four critically injured CRPF men were air-lifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, for treatment while some civilians were rushed to a hospital in Srinagar”, Hemant Kumar Lohia, DIG, Doda-Ramban range, said.
There was complete chaos as people ran for cover. At least six persons had been rounded up for questioning.
