Srinagar, Dec 25 (IANS) Seven people, including two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers, were wounded Friday in a powerful grenade explosion in north Kashmir’s Sopore town.
A senior police officer said separatist guerrillas lobbed a grenade at a CRPF patrol near Gadakocha in Sopore, 54 km from here. Two troopers and five civilian bystanders were injured in the blast.

“The injured troopers and the civilians were taken to sub-district hospital in Sopore for treatment. The area has been surrounded by the security forces for searches,” the officer said.

Last Friday, guerrillas had targeted a bunker of the CRPF outside the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Sopore town, wounding three CRPF troopers and a civilian.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion, which triggered panic in Sopore town in Baramulla district.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on a call given by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani. The strike is part of Geelani’s agitation to demand the vacation of land occupied by the army in Kashmir.