33 injured in Kashmir blasts

At least 33 people, including six paramilitary troopers, were injured in two separate blasts in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir Saturday, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

At least 13 civilian bystanders were injured when separatist guerrillas tossed two hand grenades at a bustling marketplace in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian -administered Jammu and Kashmir,police said.

The incident occurred in the upscale Dalgate neighbourhood that was teeming with tourists at the time.

"One grenade exploded near the tourist taxi stand, while the other failed to explode. It was later defused by the bomb disposal squad," a police officer said.

The injured civilians were taken to a hospital in Srinagar for treatment. Attending doctors described the condition of two injured civilians as serious.

Shopkeepers in Dalgate downed their shutters in panic and traffic went off the roads.

Meanwhile, a car bomb rocked Anantnag town wounding 20 people, including six paramilitary troopers.

The massive blast took place in front of the heavily guarded general post office in the south Kashmir town, 56 km from Srinagar,causing panic among the people who ran for security.

Police said a parked car packed with explosives exploded when athree-vehicle convoy of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was on the move.

"Six CRPF troopers and 14 civilians were injured in the explosion. The injured were taken to hospital by the police," a senior police officer was quoted as saying.

The blast was so powerful that it shattered windowpanes in adjacent buildings and shook houses in the vicinity.

So far no group has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Source: Xinhua