In Jammu and Kashmir, eight persons were injured in a grenade explosion triggered by suspected militants at the busy Lal Chowk in the heart of the Srinagar city this afternoon.

AIR correspondent in his report says that according to police, unidentified militants hurled a grenade towards a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) picket outside the defunct Palladium Cinema at historic Lal Chowk but the device fell short of the target and exploded on the roadside.

Eight persons including father and his minor son and a CRPF Sub-Inspector were injured in the blast which sparked off panic in the business hub. Window panes of a number of vehicles, parked nearby were damaged due to the impact of the blast. The injured were rushed to SMHS hospital and the area was cordoned off and a hunt was launched to nab the militants involved in the attack.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion. Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has strongly condemned the grenade attack at Lal Chowk in summer capital, Srinagar.