Srinagar: Two militants stormed a building housing the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Jammu and Kashmir Information Office in the heart of the city after hurling grenades and firing indiscriminately this evening (March 9, 2004), official sources said.

Eyewitnesses said two militants stormed the building, injuring two security force personnel guarding it.

The militants first exploded hand-grenades and then fired indiscriminately at around 18:25 hours (IST) before storming the building located on the busy Residency Road, the sources said.

Security forces have surrounded the three-storied building and the operation to flush them out was on. The operation was being led by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) K Rajendra Kumar.

Several offices of local dailies and correspondents of national and international news organisations were located in the area.

Police and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel sealed the entire area soon after the blast, officials said.

Several people who took shelter inside some shops were evacuated by security personnel, they said.

Shopkeepers pulled down their shutters and bystanders ran for safety as the explosion and gunfire rocked the high-security area.