• By Nidhi Giri
  • Sun, 03 Nov 2024 09:57 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Srinagar Grenade Attack: Twelve civilians, including two women and four teenagers, were injured after terrorists threw a grenade at the Sunday market near the Tourist Reception Centre in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar. The incident comes a day after a lengthy encounter in Srinagar’s Khanyar area, during which a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, who the police identified as Usman Lashkari, was killed.

The injured, who were mostly shoppers, include - Misba aged about 17 years, Azaan Kaloo aged about 17 years, Habibullah Rather aged about 50 years, Altaf Ahmad Seer aged about 21 years, Faizal Ahmad aged about 16 years, Uer Farooq, Faizan Mushtaq aged about 20 years, Zahid aged about 19 years, Gulam Muhammad sofi aged about 55 years, and, Sumaiya Jan aged about 45 years.

Out of these, four people were discharged after giving first aid. Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Dr Bilal Mohidin said that two injured would have to undergo a surgery due to severe injuries. “We came here (hospital) to meet the injured. They are undergoing treatment, 2 patients will have to undergo surgery. Special care will be given and the remaining injured will be released after treatment," he said.

J&K’s Health Minister Sakina Masood and the Srinagar Deputy Commissioner, Dr Bilal Mohiuddin, visited the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital in Srinagar to check up on them.

At the site of the attack, a joint team of the J&K Police and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area immediately afterwards as they attempted to arrest the people behind the blast. The Residency Road stretch, from the TRC to Lal Chowk, is usually crowded at this time as it hosts Srinagar’s Sunday market. A few paramilitary bunkers are also housed under the flyover near the TRC.

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Sunday’s attack is the first grenade blast in Srinagar in the past two years. In 2022, two civilians were injured when a grenade exploded near Srinagar’s Amirakadal bridge.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the grenade attack as "deeply disturbing" and said there can be no justification for targeting civilians.

In a post on X, CM Abdullah wrote, “The last 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 of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear.”

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary condemned the attack and urged the J-K police to do everything possible to end the spurt of attacks at the earliest in the region.

“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. @JmuKmrPolice must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear," he said in a post on X.

Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack.

She said, “Condemn the heinous grenade attack in #Srinagar today. Such acts of #violence are deplorable and only serve to perpetuate a cycle of fear and hatred. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured," on X.

Congress leader Ravinder Sharma mentioned a 'conspiracy' behind the attack to destabilise the elected government.

“This is a conspiracy to disturb the atmosphere here. Such incidents have increased ever since elections have been held and the new government has been formed… Sunday market is mostly crowded. I will pray for the well-being of those injured in the attack… This proves that militancy is still there in the valley… Central government has the entire law and order and security apparatus in its hand. We call for strict action…" he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

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With the Valley seeing a steep uptick in violence in the last fortnight, Lt Governor Sinha also directed senior police and security officials to respond effectively to such violent acts.

“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,” an official statement quoted the L-G telling senior security officials.