Policeman killed in Kashmir grenade attack

A policeman has died and at least 23 people have been injured after suspected Islamic militants blasted two grenades near the…

A policeman has died and at least 23 people have been injured after suspected Islamic militants blasted two grenades near the legislature building in Kashmir.

The attack in Srinagar comes three months after a suicide assault on the same building in October, which killed 40 people including dozens of civilians.

Police say the militants threw the first grenade at the main entrance of the heavily guarded legislature building and followed it up with another blast outside an abandoned cinema 500 meters away.

At least 12 people, including 8 policemen, were wounded in the first blast, which apparently had targeted police on patrol outside.

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The second blast appeared to have targeted a Border Security Force patrol near the cinema. It left three soldiers and eight civilians wounded.

The militants, who are fighting against India's control over two-thirds of Kashmir, fled after the blasts. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, local newspapers have reported the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed had threatened fresh attacks on Indian security forces.

Jaish had claimed responsibility for the October attack, but withdrew the claim later when it drew widespread condemnation from around the world.

Lashkar-e Tayyaba, another Pakistan-based group fighting for Kashmir's separation from India, had also warned of such attacks. The group issued a statement to a local newspaper last week saying it would intensify attacks on police patrols and army bunkers in Srinagar.

AP