Ultras strike in Anantnag, eight injured

Militants lob grenade at Army vehicles but hurt pedestrians

In a second attack within two days, eight people including a policeman were injured when militants lobbed a grenade on an Army vehicle in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday.

Police said unidentified militants lobbed a grenade at two stationary Army vehicles near Khanabal Chowk in Anantnag town, 55 kms from here.

However, the device exploded near one of the Army vehicles damaging its tyres and fuel tank and injuring seven pedestrians and a policeman.

Eyewitness told Deccan Herald over telephone that the explosion triggered panic in the area with people running for their lives.

Security forces cordoned off the area which houses several government offices, including the deputy commissioner’s office, they added.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. This was the second attack in the town in the last two days.

On Sunday evening, a grenade was lobbed on police post Sher Bagh in Anantnag. However, no one was injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, police claimed it solved the Sher Bagh attack case by arresting three persons allegedly involved in it.

 “During the investigation police detained a suspect Irshad Ahamd Dar of Sheerpora, Anantnag. On his questioning he revealed that one Mukhtar Ahmad Dar lobbed the grenade in the direction of Hizb-ul-Mujahidin militant Mubarak Ahmad Wani alias Major Saqib and Fayaz Talak who is  presently in Central Jail Srinagar,” incharge police media center deputy SP Manoj Pandita said.

“The entire plan of the attack on police post Sherbagh was made at Talak Bakery in which two of their associates Muzaffer Ahmad Itoo and Amir Syed Salathi were also present,” he added.

Police have arrested Mukhtar Dar, Muzaffer Itoo and Amir Salathi. “However, two more members of this HM module are evading arrest. Efforts are on to apprehend them,” police added.