SRINAGAR, India — On Sunday, a grenade attack in a crowded marketplace in the central city of Indian-administered Kashmir resulted in injuries to at least nine individuals, according to local police reports.

The incident occurred the day after a suspected militant was shot dead during a prolonged gunfight in Srinagar, a city known for its stringent security measures. Police indicated that an assailant, whose identity remains unknown, launched the grenade from a flyover bridge, apparently aiming at a paramilitary vehicle stationed nearby amid the throngs of shoppers at the bustling business hub of Srinagar.

The grenade detonated amidst vendors and their customers, leading to the hospitalization of nine people who were caught in the explosion. Authorities have since mobilized police and paramilitary forces to conduct searches for the perpetrator.

Similar grenade attacks in the past have typically been attributed by Indian officials to rebels opposing Indian governance in the contested region. In response, insurgents have alleged that these attacks are orchestrated by government operatives to tarnish their movement’s reputation.

Kashmir’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, expressed his disapproval of the attack via social media, stating, “There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians.” He urged the security forces to take immediate action to halt such violence so that residents can feel secure in their daily lives.

The region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, both of which claim ownership of the entire area. Since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947, these nuclear powers have engaged in two out of three major conflicts over Kashmir. Armed militants have been resisting New Delhi’s authority in the Indian-administered segment since 1989, with a significant number of local Muslims expressing support for their cause, which includes aspirations for either affiliation with Pakistan or complete independence.

India contends that the insurgency in Kashmir is bolstered by terrorism supported by Pakistan, a claim that Islamabad refutes. Conversely, many residents of Kashmir regard their struggle as a legitimate quest for freedom. The ongoing conflict has led to tens of thousands of casualties among civilians, militants, and government forces alike.