At least 17 people, including some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists, were injured in a grenade explosion by militants in Doda town of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday afternoon.Schoolchildren travelling in a police bus that was passing by had a narrow escape when the windowpanes of the vehicle cracked under the impact of the blast.
The explosion took place at Tunwa on the outskirts of Doda town where a group of BJP activists had assembled to discuss their strategy for future protests against the government. The grenade was hurled from a distance at 2.30 p.m.
At the same time, a district police lines bus carrying school children passed through the area. Though its windowpanes were broken, the occupants escaped without any injury, police said.
The injured have been shifted to the district hospital in Doda for treatment. One of them has lost an eye.
BJP has described it as yet another instance of the crumbling law and order situation in Doda and the emboldened spirit of militants.
"This is ample proof of what militants are up to and how the government is a passive onlooker," said state BJP president Nirmal Singh while demanding resignation of the Ghulam Nabi Azad government.
"The government has completely failed to protect minorities in the state," he said.
On May 1, 22 Hindus were gunned down by militants in Doda district.
(IANS)
