Dozens injured in Kashmir blasts

The grenades were thrown into busy markets

By Altaf Hussain BBC correspondent in Srinagar

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say nearly 50 people have been injured in two separate grenade attacks.

Unknown assailants lobbed a grenade in a busy market place in the town of Shopian, 50 km south of the summer capital, Srinagar, injuring 35 people - all civilians.

Most of the victims were civilians

Two of those injured are in a serious condition and have been brought to Srinagar for treatment.

Later, unknown attackers lobbed another grenade near a bus stop in the southern town of Anantnag, injuring 13 civilians and a policeman.

This brings the total of people injured in such attacks in the last few days to more than 60

Thirteen civilians and one policeman were injured in an explosion near a bus stop at Damhal Hanjipora near the town of Kulgam earlier in the week.

Militants blamed

Nobody has admitted carrying out either of the two attacks.

The Indian authorities have blamed separatist militants, fighting to end Indian rule.

But a leading militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, has condemned the incidents, saying that pro-India militias are responsible.

In yet more violence, the authorities say paramilitary border guards have killed two militants in a gunbattle at the village of Koimoh in south Kashmir.

The fighting broke out after the border guards raided a militant hideout on Thursday, according to the authorities.

The border guards torched the militants hide-out. and the fire damaged another two houses.

The body of one of the two militants was charred beyond recognition.

The slain militants were members of Hizbul Mujahideen group and local residents, according to the police.

A spokesman for the militant group said that three paramilitary soldiers were also killed in the gunbattle.

Police say three militants were also killed in clashes with Indian troops at Ganderbal and Budgam.

They say one of them was a resident of Pakistan-ruled Kashmir and member of the Tehrik-e-Jehad-e-Islami group.