Civilian killed, 3 wounded in grenade blast in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A civilian was killed and three others including a paramilitary trooper were wounded Friday in a grenade blast in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The blast took place in Pulwama town, about 33 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Militants today threw a grenade towards paramilitary troopers here in Murran chowk market," a police official said. "The grenade missed the intended target and exploded with a bang wounding four people including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper. However, of the wounded one succumbed on way to hospital."

The injured were immediately removed to hospital, locals said.

According to eyewitnesses following the blast they saw people lying on road struggling with pain.

"I was in the marketplace at that time and I heard the blast after that I found some people lying on road with blood oozing from their wounds," Rafiq Ahmad, a local told Xinhua over telephone from Pulwama. "One of the wounded men were unable to walk and he was helped by the bystanders to reach hospital."

Following the attack police and CRPF contingents rushed to the spot to carry out searches aimed at nabbing the attackers.

The attack created panic in the town.

"In a grenade attack today, we lost one civilian," Muneer ul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama said. "Two civilians and a CRPF trooper also received superficial injuries and are stable."

So far no militant group has claimed responsibility of the blast.

Separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between militants and Indian troops takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit