Srinagar: At least 12 civilians were injured, one of them critically, in a grenade attack in the crowded market near Tourist Reception (TRC) here on Sunday, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the attack at the Sunday Market in Srinagar “deeply disturbing”.
Police said at about 1410 hours, terrorists lobbed a hand grenade at a security force deployment near crowded Sunday Market of Srinagar.
They said the grenade exploded within the crowd, injuring 12 civilians, one among them a woman, who sustained serious injuries.
All the injured were shifted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) Srinagar for treatment.
“Police has taken cognizance of this act of terror and is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” police said and informed that “a case under sections of 16 UAP Act, 109, 115(2) BNS and 3/4 of Explosives Substances Act has been registered at Kothibagh Police Station and investigation has been set into motion.”
Soon after the incident, police and central armed police forces cordoned off the area to track down those responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir V K Birdi visited the injured civilians at a city hospital and enquired about their well-being, a police statement said.
The IGP wished the victims a speedy recovery and assured that action would be taken against the perpetrators of this crime.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, accompanied by Minister of Health and Medical Education Sakeen Itoo, also visited SMHS hospital and enquired about the condition of the injured.
They directed the hospital authorities to provide the injured with the best possible treatment.
This grenade attack took place a day after a senior most Pakistani militant commander linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Usman Lashkari alias Chota Waleed, was killed by security forces in Srinagar’s old city.
The grenade attack has been widely condemned.
”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,” Omar said on X.
The J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Tariq Karra while condemning the grenade attack, said that 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.
People’s Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, said this act of violence, intended to instill fear and cause harm, only serves to strengthen the resolve to work towards a safe and peaceful future for every citizen.
“We stand united against such senseless acts and pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” he added.
UNI
