At least 19 cvilians injured in Sopore grenade explosion

Security forces have cordoned off the area in Sopore and have launched an operation to nab the attackers.

An injured woman is being carried on a stretcher for treatment at a local hospital following the Sopore grenade attack, in Srinagar, on October 28, 2019.

At least 19 civilians, including four women, were injured in a grenade explosion near a bus stand in Baramulla district’s Sopore area on Monday afternoon. One woman was critically injured in the attack.

A police official said militants hurled a grenade near a local bus stand in Sopore on Monday afternoon. “The stretch was very busy when the explosion took place as people were standing in the area. The area was immediately cordoned off after the attack,” said a police officer.

The grenade splinters hit the civilians in the upper and lower limbs, according to the hospital sources. Six severely injured were shifted to Srinagar.

One woman, identified as Jabeena Jan, was admitted to a Srinagar hospital in “critical condition”. “Her state remains to be critical. She has received wounds in the upper and lower body parts,” said the hospital sources.

No outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is second such attack in the past three days. Six CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade attack on Saturday.

The fresh attack comes just a day ahead of the visit of a delegation of the European Union (EU) to Kashmir, first such high-profile visit since the Centre’s decision to revoke J&K’s semi-autonomous status on August 5. The delegation is likely to assess the ground situation and have a first hand account by meeting locals.