Grenade Attack In Anantnag, Restrictions Imposed Ahead Of Friday Congregations Lifted In Valley 

Terrorists carried out a grenade attack today outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Anantnag township of south Kashmir, leaving at least 14 people injured, even as restrictions imposed in the Valley in view of Friday congregations were lifted.

Normal life in Kashmir remained affected following the Centre's Aug. 5 move to abrogate Article 370, that provided special status to Jammu & Kashmir, as markets and other business establishments remained closed while most of the public transport was off the roads across the Valley, officials said.

However, government offices were open and attendance in most offices was was near normal, they said.

A large number of private vehicles and some private taxis including autorickshaws could be seen plying in many parts of the city while some roadside vendors were also visible, the officials said.

Terrorists carried out a second grenade attack in the Valley since the abrogation of Jammu & Kashmir's special status. They targeted a security patrol outside the heavily guarded DC office complex in Anantnag town, 55 km from here, around 11 a.m., an official said.

He said the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, causing splinter injuries to 14 persons, including a traffic policeman and a local journalist. All the injured were admitted to a hospital and 13 of them were discharged after treatment. One person was still in hospital but he was stated to be out of danger.

The blast sparked panic among people in the town.

Authorities have been imposing restrictions on Friday in some parts of the Valley in view of apprehensions of violent protests. The curbs were lifted today morning, the officials said.

The efforts of the state government to open schools have not borne any fruit as parents continued to keep the kids at home due to apprehensions about their safety.

While landline telephony services have been restored across the Valley, mobile telephone services in most parts of Kashmir and all internet services continue to remain suspended since Aug. 5.

Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir Government has granted permission to a delegation of National Conference from Jammu province to meet party president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah, who are currently under detention here.

"The delegation led by Provincial President Mr. Devender Singh Rana and comprising former party legislators will leave from Jammu tomorrow, 6th October 2019, in the morning," a National Conference spokesperson said.

The government has detained Farooq Abdullah, sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, under the controversial Public Safety act, a law enacted by his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1978 when he was the chief minister.

Most of the top level and second rung separatist politicians have been taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders including the two former chief ministers have been either detained or placed under house arrest.