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Srinagar: Two persons were killed and 48 others injured, nine of them seriously, when a powerful grenade explosion rocked Shopian township of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir on June 23, official sources said.

The blast, triggered by militants, took place around 11.15 am (IST) near a crowded bus stand in the township, 52 kms from Srinagar, the sources said.

They said two civilians, identified as Abdul Rashid Nengroo and Nazir Ahmad, died instantly in the blast, which was so powerful that it could be heard throughout the township.

The whole area was immediately cordoned off and the injured shifted to local hospital, the sources said, adding nine seriously injured persons were referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment.

The grenade was hurled by militants towards security personnel patrolling the area, the sources said. The ultras fled the scene taking advantage of the panic, which followed the blast, they added.

Security forces conducted a search operation, but no one was arrested, the sources said.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

PTI