12 hurt as ultras lob grenade at ‘Sunday market’ in Srinagar

A day after the security forces eliminated a Lashkar-e-Taiba top commander in an encounter in Srinagar, at least 12 persons were injured when terrorists lobbed a grenade at a flea market in the city near the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) this afternoon.

The explosion took place when the area was abuzz with locals, who had come to visit the weekly “Sunday market”.

The police believe the terrorists wanted to attack Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stationed near the TRC, but they missed the target. It is suspected that the grenade was hurled from a nearby flyover.

Deeply disturbing

The news of the grenade attack on innocent shoppers is deeply disturbing. The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt in attacks. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister

Immediately after the attack, the shoppers tried to take cover in nearby areas. A massive search operation was launched by the Special Operations Group and the CRPF to nab those behind the attack. The injured were immediately shifted to SMHS Hospital in the city where they are under treatment.

Yesterday, the security forces had killed a top Pakistani commander, identified by the police as Usman Lashkari of the LeT, in the Khanyar area of Srinagar.

The entire area near the TRC, which is heavily guarded, was cordoned off immediately after today’s attack with the police and the CRPF taking positions to deter any further attacks.

The Kashmir region has been rocked by terror attacks during the past few days. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to DGP Nalin Prabhat and senior officials of the security agencies regarding the grenade attack.

He called for an “effective response to punish the terrorists and their accomplices”. The L-G, in a statement, 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 L-G told senior security officials.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a statement on X, said, “The past few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks and 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 in attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear.”

Kashmir IGP VK Birdi visited the injured civilians at the hospital and assured them that action “will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime”.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat also visited SMHS Hospital to see the injured. The DC asked the hospital authorities to ensure all medical facilities to the injured.

J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra condemned the attack and said it was deeply disturbing to learn about the unfortunate and ghastly incident of a grenade attack on shopkeepers, resulting in injuries to innocent people. “The J&K Police must take effective measures to contain such brutal and inhuman attacks so that the public can move freely and without any fear,” Karra said.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had on Saturday demanded an independent probe into the surge in terror attacks suspecting that these were an attempt to destabilise the Omar Abdullah-led J&K Government.

CRPF men were the target

The explosion took place when the area was abuzz with locals, who had come to visit the weekly “Sunday market”

The police believe the terrorists wanted to attack CRPF personnel stationed near the TRC, but missed the target.