Islamists hurled crude bomb on pilgrims to dismantle Buddha Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir.

12 injured in a crude bomb explosion near Dashnami Akhara temple in Poonch. Most of the injured are Hindu Pilgrims of Buddha Amarnath Yatra .

Sumit Rawal | HENB | Jammu | Aug 13, 2016:: Suspected Jihadi militants hurled a grenade on Saturday evening in a market in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, leaving 12 people injured.  Most of the injured are pilgrims of Baba Buddha Amarnath Yatra. Six critical injured have been shifted to a Jammu hospital. Rest injured persons are being treated in local hospital.

The incident occurred in the Poonch market and on a spot close to a Dashnami Akhara Temple in the city. Dashnami Akhara is a Hindu system in which Hindu Sannyasins are distinguished with their special monastic order.

Deputy inspector general Rajouri-Poonch range Johny Williams said the blast took place around 8pm.

“It was a light intensity crude bomb explosion that took place in a Tata Sumo parked 60 metres from a temple. A few policemen and NGO workers are among the injured,” he said. These NGO workers were opened their stalls to give some services to the pilgrims of Buddha Amarnath Yatra.

The blast took place near the Dashnami Akhara temple, which is the main transit camp for pilgrims of the Buddha Amarnath yatra that started on August 9.

“The blast could be the handiwork of local miscreants,” Williams said.

Police have cordoned off the area and a hunt is on for the perpetrators of the attack.

Police and other security forces, who were on alert due to the Buddha Amarnath yatra in the border district, have cordoned off the area and launched search operation.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Buddha Amarnath Temple is located in Mandi tehsil of Poonch. The shrine is older than the Amarnath shrine as believed, so it is called Buddha Amarnath.

The blast has occurred at a time when the Valley districts are reeling under curfew and restrictions in the wake of violent protests that followed the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani last month.

The agitating Jihadis in Kashmir are demanding a absolute Islamisation of Kashmir for a freedom from India.

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__Agencies.