Grenade throwing module busted, 4 militant associates held

Large number of people join burial of the young girl killed in grenade blast in Srinagar on Monday. —Excelsior/Shakeel
Large number of people join burial of the young girl killed in grenade blast in Srinagar on Monday. —Excelsior/Shakeel

Woman injured in Srinagar blast succumbs, toll 2

Fayaz Bukhari

Srinagar, Mar 7: A 19-year-old woman who was injured in a grenade blast yesterday at Hari Singh High Street succumbed to her injuries today, taking the death toll in the blast to two while police busted a grenade throwing militant module by arresting four militant associates in Awantipora area of Pulwama district.
A 19-year-old woman, Rafiya daughter of Nazir Ahmad Tinda of Dargah near NIT, succumbed to her injuries at SMHS hospital in Srinagar today. She was critically wounded in a grenade attack along with 35 others at Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar yesterday.
Thousands of people gathered at her residence today soon after her death.
An elderly person Mohammad Aslam Makhdoomi, 70, from Naid Kadal Srinagar had died on the spot while 35 persons including a policeman were injured in the blast.
The explosion took place while the area was abuzz with a huge rush of shoppers who had thronged the week flea Sunday market. Police last evening detained several persons for questioning in connection with the blast.
Police today arrested four LeT militant associates in South Kashmir’s Awantipora area.
Police identified the arrested militant associates as Aqib Manzoor Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Mudasir Ahmed Bhat son of Gh Mohd Bhat, Ghulam Mohammad Ahanger, son of Late Abdul Rehman Ahanger, all residents of Haffu Tral and Waris Bashir Najar son of Bashir Ahmed Najar resident of Sheikh Mohalla Chewa Uller, Tral. Three hand grenades have been recovered from their possession.
Police said that Waris Bashir Najar was involved in throwing grenade on Army camp at Mandoora on March 1st evening.
A police spokesman said that during preliminary investigation, it came to fore that they were carrying grenade throwing activities on the directions of Irshad Ahmed Bhat son of Late Fayaz Ahmed Bhat (slain HM militant) resident of Wailoo Pattan who is currently lodged in Central Jail Srinagar in a murder case and Mustakeem Ahmed Ahangar alias Waheed son of Ghulam Mohammad Ahangar, resident of Haffu Tral, who too is detained in Central Jail Srinagar in connection with smuggling of weapons case. “Both Mustakeem and Irshad are coordinating militant activities even from Central Jail Srinagar,” the spokesman said.
“In this regard, a case vide FIR No. 21/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation initiated. More arrests are expected in the instant case once further links are investigated and established”, police said.