Four hurt in Kashmir terror attack

SRINAGAR - Three policemen were wounded in a gunfight between separatist guerrillas and security personnel in north Kashmir’s Sopore town Friday after militants lobbed a grenade at a police station, officials said. The grenade blast injured a civilian.

The militants first lobbed a grenade at the heavily guarded police station in the heart of Sopore, injuring a local Congress party worker.

A senior police officer said the grenade hit the roof of the police station, rolled down and exploded near the main entrance.

“A Congress party worker was wounded in the explosion. He was taken to hospital and has been referred by doctors to Srinagar,” the officer said.

Once senior police officers reached the explosion site, guerrillas who were hiding in the vicinity opened fire, triggering a gun battle.

Three police men were injured in the gun fight that started around 45 minutes after the grenade attack. One of them was said to be in a critical condition.

While the firing has stopped, the area has been cordoned off and searches are on for the guerrillas, an official said.