Gun battle in Kashmir town after grenade attack

SRINAGAR - A gunfight was under way between separatist guerrillas and security personnel in north Kashmir’s Sopore town Friday after militants lobbed a grenade at a police station, injuring one person, officials said.

Separatist guerrillas 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 building, rolled down and exploded near the main entrance.

“A local Congress party worker was wounded in the explosion. He was taken to hospital and has been referred by the 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.