Kashmir tensions: Grenade hurled at army convoy injuring several people

At least eight civilians and four soldiers were injured when a grenade was hurled at an army convoy in the restive northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Among the injured three were women.

The assailants managed to escape from the scene following the attack in Kashmir's Shopian district. The paramilitary forces, known as Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) were on patrol when the incident took place. The grenade reportedly missed the target, but injured civilians.

The victims have been taken to hospital for treatment and all of them are said to be stable. Their identities have not been revealed as yet. Local reports say the explosion took place at a crowded shopping centre at about 11.30am on 11 October.

"Two CRPF men were also treated for injuries in their limbs. Nobody had any serious injury," a medical officer was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. This is the fifth such attack on Indian forces within the last 30 days.

It comes on the heels of another armed confrontation between the Indian forces and militants which has been going on for more than 30 hours. The Islamists are holed up in a huge government-run building in Pampore district since Monday (10 October) battling security forces.

The Kashmir valley plunged into chaos shortly after a local separatist leader, Burhan Wani, was killed by Indian forces on 8 July. Since then, the state has been witnessing cross-border attacks. India also claims it carried out 'surgical strikes' in Pakistani territory to take down Islamist terrorists' positions.