FORTY-SEVEN people were injured on Friday in two grenade attacks by suspected muslim militants in market places in Indian-administered Kashmir, Indian police said.
In the first attack, suspected militants hurled a grenade towards a security force patrol in the town of Shopian, 50 kilometres south of the Kashmir summer capital Srinagar.
It missed its target and exploded among shoppers near the main bus stand, injuring 30 civilians.
”The condition of four civilians is serious and they may be shifted to Srinagar soon,” a police representative said.
He said about half a dozen people suffered injuries in a stampede as people ran for cover after the blast.
In a similiar attack in the town of Anantnag, 60 kilometres south of Srinagar, a grenade missed a security patrol and exploded injuring 16 civilians and one member of the paramilitary forces.
Two militant groups, Hizbul Mujahedin and Jamiat-ul-Majahedin condemned the attacks.
On Thursday 13 civilians and a member of the paramilitary forces were injured when suspected militants hurled a grenade at a security patrol in Damhal Hanjipora village.
Seven militants died in different encounters with security forces on Friday, police said.
More than 35 000 people have died in Indian Kashmir since an armed separatist campaign erupted in 1989.- Sapa-AFP