Two civilians were killed and 32 others were injured as suspected Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant lobbed powerful grenade targeting crowded place at Bus Stand platform near U-market in Jammu in Jammu District on March 7, reports Daily Excelsior. One civilian, identified as Mohammad Sharik (17), a resident of Uttarakhand, was killed and 33 others (10 hailing from Jammu, 11 from Kashmir and 12 from outside the State) were injured in the grenade explosion. Later, one more civilian succumbed to his injuries on March 8 (today) morning. The blast occurred on the roadside when there was huge rush of people. Sources said majority of the injured were travelers while some of them were shopkeepers and rehriwallahs (street vendors) in the vicinity of the area. Some vehicles parked in the area also suffered damage after being hit by splinters of the grenade.
Jammu Police on March 7 arrested a HM militant, identified as Yasir Javed Bhat alias Arman of South Kashmir within few hours after he lobbed powerful grenade in a crowded area at General Bus Stand in which two civilians were killed and 32 others were injured, reports Daily Excelsior. According to sources, HM’s ‘district commander’ Farooq Ahmad Bhat alias Umar, based in Kulgam District had masterminded the blast in Jammu to target innocent people in crowded areas to disturb peace in the City. Police sources said that the HM militant Yasir Javed Bhat, who carried out the grenade attack at Bus Stand, was just a 9th class student of British School at Khanpora Dassan in Kulgam District. He was lured into militancy by Farooq Ahmed Bhat. Jammu Police have established contact with their Kulgam counterparts to ascertain more details about Yasir. However, this was reportedly the first terror act committed by Yasir, sources said.