Monday, September 5 2005 17:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Sixteen people, including two boys and a labourer from Bihar, suffered splinter injuries as a grenade, aimed at a security patrol, missed its target and exploded on a road in Shopian town of Jammu and Kashmir today (sept 5, 2005), official sources said.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles were patrolling Batpora area in Shopian township in Pulwama district when unidentified ultras hurled the grenade towards them around 11.30 am, the sources said.

The explosive device missed the intended target and exploded on the road resulting in splinter injuries to 16 pedestrians.

"The troops escaped unhurt in the explosion," they said, adding, "all the injured were shifted to nearby hospital from where six of them were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment."

"Police, assisted by security forces immediately cordoned the area and launched a hunt to trace the militants involved in the grenade attack," the sources said, adding that no outfit had claimed responsibility so far.