by Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, July 18: Tibetan shopkeepers were among those injured in a powerful grenade blast at Baltal base camp late last night according to a media report.
In the blast, a local resident was killed and 19 others, including a pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh and a bus conductor from Delhi were wounded, the report said quoting official sources.
A police spokesman said militants hurled a hand grenade near the main entrance gate of the high security camp where a large number of ‘yatris’ (pilgrims) were taking rest around 9.30pm.
The grenade exploded a few yards outside the camp fencing, causing injuries to 20 people.
However, the police said 14 people were wounded. The injured were immediately shifted to local medical camps. Nine of the critically wounded were later rushed to hospitals in Srinagar for treatment.
CRPF Commandant Parveen Kumar, incharge of Baltal base camp, said majority of the injured were locals and Tibetan shopkeepers, who were selling their products to pilgrims. Mr Kumar added that the grenade exploded near the shopping complex. Later, all those present in the area were properly frisked and their identity cards checked.
The Commandant said the yatris inside the base camp are safe and the security has been tightened further.
