SHABIR IBN YUSUF

SRINAGAR,An engineer who was injured in grenade blast at Batamaloo area of Srinagar last evening succumbed to his injures this morning.

Assistant engineer Showkat Ali Khan, a resident of Balgarden Srinagar who was critically injured in a grenade attack in Batamaloo late last evening succumbed to his injuries this morning in SKIMS. While as the condition of two injured police men is stated to be stable.

The engineer and two policemen were injured when unidentified persons hurled a grenade towards the police personnel, belonging to traffic wing near the fire brigade headquarters at around 7.25 PM late last evening.

Police today detained a minor boy for questioning and later he was released. Police sources said a 17 boy was picked up suspicion. “We detained the boy because of the reports that he was constantly roaming in the area for two days,” a senior police officer said adding that after the questioning he was released. “We did not found him involved and he was handed over to the guardians,” said the police officer.

The police officer said that they are hunting for the people who have hurled the grenade. “We are investigating and are hopeful to get the lead in the attack,” the police officer said.

Srinagar city today witnessed a beefed up vigil in view of grenade attack. Police and paramilitary CRPF troopers were seen checking the light vehicles and asking the pedestrians for identity card. At some places the police was witnessed checking the documents of motor bikes and inquiry pillions about the purpose of their visits.

At Parimpora, on the city outskirts, the light vehicles coming from North Kashmir were being frisked thoroughly. Similar were reports from Pantha Chowk, the light vehicles coming from South Kashmir were being checked.

Yesterdays attack in Batamaloo is the second attack on police in last two months. Earlier on January 3, two cops were injured when a police party in Batamaloo was attacked by the suspected militants.

The fire was opened fire at a Santro vehicle carrying a police party in Reck Chowk near Dhobi Masjid Batamaloo. Station House Officer, Batamaloo Nazir Ahmad Teli and a constable, Mohammad Iqbal, were injured in that attack.

On December 30 last, suspected militants made a bid to blow up a paramilitary CRPF bunker in the area. The device missed the target and exploded on roadside, without causing any damage to life or property