One killed, 35 wounded in Kashmir grenade attack

Srinagar, Oct 28 (UNI) One person was killed and 35 others, including 31 civilians, were wounded in a powerful grenade explosion in the apple town of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district today, police said.

A police spokesman said among the wounded were four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.

The spokesman said militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a Maruti Gypsy belonging to the BSF's 45 battalion at the Sopore main chowk at around 1245 hrs. The battalion is headquartered at Sopore.

The grenade hit the vehicle resulting in injuries to 32 civilians and four BSF personnel, he added.

The spokesman said the wounded were shifted to various hospitals where the condition of many of them was stated to be critical.

One civilian, Khazir Mohammad, who was rushed to the SMHS hospital here later succumbed to his injuries, he added.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation to nab the ultras.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the grenade attack.

UNI AG YA HS1736