A grenade attack was reported on Indian forces in Indian-administered Jammuand Kashmir on Saturday, police officials said.
Suspected militants hurled a grenade towards Indian forces deployed near abus stand in Tral, Awantipora in the southern Pulwama district, but itmissed the target and exploded on the road, police officer Aijaz Malik toldAnadolu Agency.
Seven civilians were hurt in the blast and four more were injured in theensuing stampede, according to the official.
“All the injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment and the areahas been cordoned off to nab the attackers,” he said.
Observers say there has been an uptick in grenade attacks in the disputedregion since the Indian government revoked its special status on Aug. 5,2019.
“You see these attacks being reported more frequently and there areapprehensions they will continue to increase, given the situation in ourregion since the Indian government scrapped the two constitutionallegislations [related to Kashmir’s status],” said Ahsan Untoo, a humanrights activist.
Disputed region
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region in the Himalayas, is held by India andPakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir isalso held by China.
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Since they were partitioned in 1947, New Delhi and Islamabad have foughtthree wars – in 1948, 1965, and 1971 – two of them over Kashmir.
Also, in Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani troopshave fought intermittently since 1984. A cease-fire took effect in 2003.
Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against theIndian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.
According to several human rights groups, thousands have been killed in theconflict since 1989.
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