Series of explosions leave two dead, 35 wounded in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 22 (UNI) A day after a suicide attack on a Congress rally here, militants today triggered a series of grenade explosions in Srinagar city, killing two people and wounding 35 others, including 11 security personnel.

The blasts came as Jammu and Kashmir gets ready to host the second round-table conference which will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on May 24-25.

Official sources said militants hurled a grenade on a vehicle carrying security force personnel at Soura in the city outskirts at around 2045 hrs tonight.

However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded near a passenger vehicle, causing injuries to six people, including the driver.

The wounded were shifted to the nearby Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) where the driver, Farooq Ahmed Reshi, was declared brought dead.

The wounded tourists have been identified as Kanya Lal, Suraj, Trilok Chand, his brother Murli and Kavita (all from Madhya Pradesh).

The sources said militants hurled a hand grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol at Fateh Kadal in the downtown city at 1630 hrs this afternoon.

Four CRPF personnel and three civilians were wounded in the blast, they added.

One of the wounded, Tanveer Ahmed, later succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Official sources said X X X Eds here picking up from para five of DR-61 (INSURGENCY-KASHMIR-OVERALL LEAD BLAST).

UNI BAS RR KN2229