Blast at Srinagar CTO — 28 injured

According to the police, the militants apparently used a remote device to trigger the blast. “If the blast had been triggered around 2 p.m, therewould have been a number of casualties,” a police officer said. That’s the time when a lot of subscribers come to the office.

Three of the injured have been shifted to SMHS Hospital and others givenfirst aid, he said. The police sealed all the exit points at the office anddeployed sniffer dogs. No arrests have been made.

The police sources said after Sunday’s fidayeen bid to storm the Srinagarairport, they were apprehending that militants would try to strike at vital installations. Security has been beefed up at Doordarshan, radio station, airport, telecommunication office and other important installations.

Meanwhile, a massive operation against militants is continuing in theRajwar forests of Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara. A jointoperation was launched by the Army and the police on Monday morning and exchange of fire between militants and security forces was going on till last reports came in.

According to the police, two militants of the Jaish Mohammad outfit have been killed. However, unconfirmed reports from the area said five militants have died in the encounter. Two armymen have also been injured.

In Anantnag, at least 20 persons were injured this afternoon when militants hurled a grenade towards a counter-insurgent at Janglat Gali. The grenademissed the target and exploded on the road, causing splinter injuries to 20 civilians who were admitted to hospital.

The police said a Congress activist, Ghulam Nabi Reshi, was killed bymilitants at his residence at Dembpora, Sumbal. The militants barged into the house last night and fired indiscriminately, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, the body of one Abdul Majid Khan, a resident of KhaiporaPayeen in Tangmarg, was found in an area nearby. He was running a medical shop.