Four attacks in six hours; security men shot in south Kashmir

Four hours following grenade attacks in Srinagar 2 more attacks have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports claim that at policemen in Shopian and Ananatnag were shot at. The attack comes  following J&K Chief Minister claims on revoking AFSPA in certain areas in the valley. Earlier in the morning grenades were lobbed at security-men in Srinagar, injuring three CRPF men while on duty. [caption id=“attachment_116895” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“This is the fouth attack in 6hrs today.”]  [/caption] Two grenade were lobbed on security installations in central Srinagar in a span of about five minutes followed by an aborted attempt to target a police party with a grenade in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. Later a policeman was shot at and injured in nearby Anantnag district, prompting authorities to tighten vigil. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attacks which come barely four days after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced plans to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act from certain parts of the state. The first incident occurred at Maisuma area near Lal Chowk when the ultras hurled a grenade targeting a CRFF bunker outside Dashnami Akhara building at 12:25 PM, police said. The grenade exploded resulting in injuries to three CRPF jawans who were admitted to a hospital. Minutes later, another grenade was hurled by militants at a police post in Batmaloo, less than a kilometre away from site of the first blast, they said. No one was injured in the Batmaloo blast. Police and CRPF personnel cordoned off both the sites and detained a suspect for questioning. Media reports claim that the attacks were planned; army has claimed to have intercepted conversations between the terrorists involved. The army has consistently opposed the revoking of the controversial act, that gives the armed forces unrestrained access to search and shoot at will in the valley. The army in the summer had intercepted over 50 attempts by militants to cross the LoC during the summers. Following the Chief Minister’s statements the army had contested the claims saying that the army hasn’t been taken into confidence about revoking the AFSPA. Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju has said that there needs to be a balanced view on revoking AFSPA. Meanwhile, US, Canada, and New Zeland have issued travel advisories to their citizens, citing India as a high risk nation.   Agencies