Bomb hoax causes panic in Srinagar lower court

Srinagar, July 19 (UNI) Panic gripped the lower court complex here when news spread that a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) had been planted by the militants.

People ran for safety as security forces in and outside the complex conducted searches.

A bomb disposal squad was immediately summoned and the complex was thoroughly searched. However, no IED was found.

Later, security forces in the nearby historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the Kashmir valley, further stepped up security in the entire area.

Almost all the vehicles were being searched and passengers frisked by the security personnel.

A security force official told UNI that they have received information about a militant attack in the area.

He said, ''though no IED has been found in the court complex, we do not want to take any chance.'' The pedestrians and customers were also being frisked.

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