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3 killed, 14 injured in Kashmir

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Ten people were injured when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at a Congress rally at Tral in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 19. However, Congress legislator Mehbooba Mufti and others who were addressing the rally escaped unhurt.

While police held militants responsible for the attack, Mufti blamed the 'gunmen of the National Conference government'.

"Militants could not have carried out such an attack in view of the heavy presence of forces in the area,'' she said, "I heard sounds of gun shots from the nearby area." She alleged the security forces did not do anything, but stood as 'mute spectators'.

In another incident, a powerful mine-blast killed three civilian bystanders and wounded four Border Security Force personnel at Hawal in downtown Srinagar late Friday afternoon. Police said the landmine exploded when a BSF vehicle hit it. The injured include an assistant commandant and three jawans. The three civilians died on the spot. The condition of three injured is stated to be critical.

No one has yet admitted responsibility for the blast.

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