Srinagar: One person was killed and 13 others were injured in a grenade hurled at security forces in Srinagar. The attack took place in a market on Maulana Azad Road near Jahagir Chowk in Srinagar. This is the third grenade attack in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two weeks.

All the injured were taken to the hospital, out of which two are said to be critical. The attack took place at 1.20 pm this afternoon.

The terror attack targeted roadside vendors as the city market has been shut down due to restrictions. The deceased was reportedly a non-vendor and was from Saharanpur.

The valley has been witnessing chaos since August 5 when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and divided it into two Union Territories. This being the third blast in the last fifteen days, 15 people were injured in a similar attack in Sopore town last week.

Defence expert GJ Singh voiced his opinion on the terror attack and said, “Not all citizens in the valley but a section of people in Jammu and Kashmir are opposing Article 370, and people from PPP, basically a minority are trying to create a perception that Kashmir is not at peace by creating such terror attacks. People of this country want Jammu and Kashmir to be at peace and merge with the country. Government has done a good job but a section in Kashmir is not a peace because they have lost special status and their livelihoods have been affected. Centre of terrorism is not in Jammu and Kashmir but in Pakistan as they indoctrinate people to carry out such terror attacks.”

On October 26, terrorists threw grenades at six personnel of a CRPF team that was inspecting vehicles at a check post.

In another attack, security forces were targeted in Karan Nagar while on duty. A grenade was hurled at Karan Nagar police station, and was later followed by firing.

According to a report on NDTV, the terrorists have mainly been targeting truck drivers and labourers from other states since August 5. Eleven non-locals were killed in October in different terror attacks. Also, five labourers from Bengal were shot dead in Kulgam district.

Security has been tightened since Jammu and Kashmir has been revoked of its special status and the valley is in high tension.  The police have termed these attacks an attempt to create fear among the public, intimidating them to return to normal life in the valley.