Srinagar/ Pulwama, Nov 21: At least eight people sustained splinter injuries after a grenade aimed at an army convoy exploded in a busy market in Bijbehra town in south Kashmir while as complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama town against the alleged excesses by troops. Elsewhere in Valley, life returned to normal after a day of strike.
The grenade explosion triggered panic in the Bijbehara market on Sunday afternoon. The CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said the grenade was aimed at a passing army convoy when it missed its target and landed on a Santro car.
“As a result, the tank of the white car bearing number JK13-A-8236 caught fire,” Tripathi told Greater Kashmir. “A motorcycle following the car collided with it resulting in grievous injury to the biker. The pedestrians who were walking on the roadside also got splinter injures. A total of eight persons were injured”.
Tripathi said only four people have received grievous injuries and were shifted to SMHS hospital here for further treatment.
 “Fortunately, the people traveling in white Santro car including two children escaped unhurt,” he said. “The children were studying in Army goodwill school. The guardians were going to drop children to their school before the incident happened”.
 The eight injured include two ladies identified as Firdous Akhter and Bibi Jan. The four seriously injured have been identified as Sohail Ahmad Rather, a resident of Wadoora Tangmarg, Javaid Ahmad Para a resident of Shopian, Nissar Ahmad Shiekh a resident of Bijbehara and Aqib Gul Bhat son of Ghulam Muhammad Bhat resident of Wari pora-Tangmarg. All of them suffered splinter injuries near main town Bijbehara.
 Soon after the grenade attack, panic gripped the entire area. People were seen running for safer places. Additional deployment of CRPF and policemen was rushed to the spot.  
 Meanwhile, life returned to normal a day after shutdown. Shops, businesses establishment and some private schools re-opened. The vehicles were also seen plying on the roads.
 The Pulwama town observed complete shutdown on Sunday to protest the alleged excesses of police and paramilitary CRPF.
 The shutdown call was given by Pulwama traders federation against what it termed “reign of terror” unleashed by force personnel. All the shops and business establishments remained closed while vehicular movement was off the roads.
 While taking stock of the situation, a team of district administration headed by Additional Development Commissioner Tariq Ahmad and Additional SP Rakesh Bali visited Pulwama town. They discussed the matter of excesses by Police and CRPF with some local shopkeepers. They also discussed the matter with Traders Federation people headed by their president Bashir Ahmad.
 Earlier the shopkeepers had alleged that CRPF and police went on a beating spree in the town after recent Friday Prayers.   
 Taking the immediate notice of grievances of shopkeepers, the administration assured the 35 members team of Traders Federation that the officers responsible will not be allowed to maintain Law and Order duties in future with in the Town. They also assured that full cooperation will given by Police in future.
 “We have asked to transfer DSP home guards along with other officers involved in intimidation and beating of people and shopkeepers,” President Traders Federation, Bashir Ahmad said. “The administration said they would not transfer the officers. But they assured that in future the accused officers would not be employed in law and order duties in the area”.
 In nerve centre Lal Chowk and adjoing places, the markets were teeming with shoppers. The street vendors were selling garments and footwear’s in the Sunday market. A large number of customers were witnessed there.
 A police spokesman said the situation throughout the Valley was normal with no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere. The Valley is witnessing protests and shutdowns after the killing of a teenager here on June 11 in police action.
 Meanwhile, following the arrest of two youth allegedly involved in stone pelting in Parimpora in Srinagar, the authorities have imposed undeclared restrictions in the area on Sunday.
 The residents said early morning contingents of CRPF and Police were deployed in the area. They said nobody was allowed to venture out of their houses.
 The residents said the troopers have kept the highway open. However, they said the inner roads and bylanes of Parmipora were sealed.
 The restrictions were imposed after protests broke out against the arrest of two youth in Parimpora on Saturday evening. The police arrested two youth Ghulam Muhammad sheikh  and Tanvir A  Sheikh from Abu Bakr colony Parimpora. Ghulam Muhammad was sent to outside valley jail after PSA was slapped on him.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST