One person was injured when suspected militants fired a rifle grenade at a mobile tower in the heart of Srinagar on Monday afternoon, the fifth such attack that accentuated fears among mobile operators across the Kashmir Valley.
Preliminary reports suggested the rifle grenade was fired at a mobile tower at Goodbagh in Habba Kadal area.
One person was injured in the attack, police sources said.
Security personnel rushed to the area and launched a search operation to nab the attackers.
This was first attack on mobile phone facilities by suspected militants in Srinagar. It came in the wake of a series of attacks in Baramulla district of north Jammu and Kashmir.
Two people were killed and two more injured in four attacks carried out by suspected militants in Sopore and Palhalan areas in the past fortnight.
The little-know Lashkar-e-Islam claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group warned all cellular companies to wind up their services in the Kashmir Valley. It threatened people working for cellular companies with dire consequences for providing any service.
Most mobile towers in the restive Sopore, Baramulla and Palhalan areas are shut, affecting the operations of all leading cellular companies.
{{/usCountry}}Most mobile towers in the restive Sopore, Baramulla and Palhalan areas are shut, affecting the operations of all leading cellular companies.
{{/usCountry}}Top police officials, including director general of police Rajendra Kumar and inspector general of police SJM Gillani, have blamed the indigenous Hizbul Mujahideen for the attacks. However, the group distanced itself from the attacks.
Most separatists, including hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani, have condemned the attacks. Geelani has asked the United Jehad Council to come clean on the Lashkar-e-Islami.