Ultras hurl grenade at J&K minister’s motorcade, 2 dead

Two people were killed and at least 30, including security personnel, were injured after suspected militants lobbed a grenade at a motorcade in south Kashmir’s Tral town on Thursday. The motorcade included the vehicles of several dignitaries, including senior state minister Naeem Akhtar.

“Today (Thursday) in the afternoon, terrorists hurled a grenade at a bus stand in Tral, under the jurisdiction of police station Tral in Awantipora, resulting in on the spot death of two innocent civilians,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

The dead were identified as Pinky Kour and a senior citizen named Ghulam Nabi Trag. The injured included seven CRPF jawans, two policemen and 21 civilians. Two government engineers were also among the injured.

Akhtar escaped unhurt. He was travelling to review and inaugurate certain development projects. “Yes, I was travelling through the area. I am fine,” Akhtar confirmed to HT after the accident. He tweeted that he survived the attack and felt sad for the lives lost.

Reports said the minister broke down while addressing a presser in Tral after the incident and told mediapersons that the attacker was neither a friend of Kashmir nor Islam.

Initially misconstrued as an incident of fratricide, the attack which left a jawan of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) dead and an ASI injured has turned out to be a terror attack.

Mohan Lal, SSP Ramban told Hindustan Times that around 7.05pm on Wednesday, ultras fired at SSB jawan from a close range with a pistol, when he along with other SSB personnel were returning to their camp.

"In the firing a head constable, Ramparvesh Yadav, was killed and ASI Sham Singh was injured. Subsequently, the ultras, who were three in number, snatched two rifles, an AR 41 and an INSAS, from the SSB personnel before fleeing from the spot,” said the SSP.

The incident took place near Navyuga Engineering base camp. The slain head constable Yadav was a native of Balia in Uttar Pradesh. A wreath laying ceremony was held at Ramban on Thursday where senior officers from the SSB, Police and army paid their last respects to Yadav. The dead and the injured personnel belonged to 14th battalion of the SSB, Mohan Lal further said.