Public Works Minister Naeem Akhtar was the target of the grenade attack in Tral township of Pulwama district, Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said on Thursday.

“Minister Naeem Akhtar was the target of the Tral attack, he has now been taken to a safe location,” a Mumbai-based TV channel quoted Vaid as saying.

The attack took place when the minister’s cavalcade was moving in the town around noon.

Three civilians were killed and thirty others, including seven CRPF troopers, injured in the attack.

Later, locals staged a protest outside the SDH Tral, alleging that forces opened fire and resorted to pellet firing after the explosion.

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