The Aircel showroom in Srinagar which was attacked today
Terrorists threw grenades today at two mobile phone shops and a telecom tower in Srinagar today, injuring one person. The two attackers were caught on security cameras at the Aircel and Vodafone shops, but sources said their faces cannot be clearly seen.
In May, more than 50 communications towers were shut down in the Sopore area of Northern Kashmir, just 50 km away, after a string of attacks and threats by terrorists.
Officials have said that terrorists want to prevent people from sharing intelligence with security agencies involved in counter-insurgency efforts in the Kashmir valley.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah described today's grenade attacks as "a wake up call" for the coalition government of the BJP and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed which took over in February.
30 km away from Srinagar, in Pulama, in what is being seen as a throwback to the period of militancy that seared the region, posters have appeared warning beauty parlours to shut down within 24 hours, and ordering schools to ensure that girls cover their heads with the hijab. The posters carry the name of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
In May, a previously unknown terrorist group called Lashkar-e-Islam warned people working for or with telecoms companies to stop, saying that cell phone services were being used to target members of the group. Posters had appeared in the Sopore area, demanding phone companies shut down their operations.