Srinagar: Close shave for CRPF men as ultras hurl grenade

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: In the first attack on security forces in the Valley since abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, militants hurled a grenade at CRPF personnel in downtown Srinagar on Saturday but missed the target. The grenade was hurled at CRPF’s 38 battalion personnel deployed on law and order duty in Nawa Kadal area of the city this afternoon, officials said.

It missed the target and exploded without causing any damage, they said.

The security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the assailants, they added. Kashmir has been subjected to a complete shutdown for 55 days now. However, government offices are functioning and many banks are also open. But public transport is still not plying and students are away from school.

PAK VIOLATES CEASEFIRE ALONG LOC IN J&K

Pakistani troops on Saturday resorted to mortar shelling and small arms firing on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, a defence spokesperson said.

The unprovoked firing from across the border started in Shahpur and Kerni sectors around 5.15 pm, prompting a strong retaliation from the Indian Army, he said. There was no report of any casualty on the Indian side, the spokesperson said. He said the firing was still going on when last reports were received. This year, according to officials, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the LoC over 2,000 times, leaving 21 dead and scores injured.

THIS IS THE FIRST ATTACK ON SECURITY FORCES IN THE VALLEY SINCE ABROGATION OF ART 370