Cop killed, 11 injured in grenade blast in old Srinagar

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked youth to chose between tourism and terrorism, terrorists lobbed a powerful grenade on a police party, leaving one cop dead and 11 others, including three CRPF men, injured at Nowhatta in sensitive old Srinagar city.

The incident occurred in the evening when the security forces were withdrawing after performing day-long duty. Terrorists surfaced near a narrow alley at Bata Chowk and hurled a powerful grenade on the forces which exploded with a big bang.

Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, SP Vaid told DNA that the security forces were withdrawing when a grenade was hurled. "Over a dozen cops and security forces men were injured. Later one of the injured cop succumbed to his injuries," he said.

Rajesh Yadav, the CRPF spokesman told DNA that it was a joint posse of police and jawans of 28 battalion of CRPF which was deployed at Nowhatta. "During the withdrawal hours, they were attacked with grenade in which one cop died. Three of our men from 28 battalion were also injured," he said.

Security forces immediately launched a search operation but the terrorists managed to escape.

This is the second major terror attack in Srinagar in the last 24 hours. On Saturday terrorists ambushed an Army convoy in daylight at Bemina Bypass on the strategic Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway leaving three soldiers injured.