Three people were killed and 20 others injured on Monday in a powerful hand grenade explosion in Bandipore, 50 km from Srinagar [Images]. No group claimed responsibility for the explosion, the police said..

A senior police officer said militants hurled a grenade at a passing Border Security Force (BSF) vehicle in Bandipore market in the afternoon, causing injuries to 23 persons. "All the injured were taken to the local hospital where doctors referred 12 critically injured to various hospitals in Srinagar. Three of them, including Yasir Rafiq, a 13-year-old boy, died at the SMHS hospital. Nine critically injured people have been admitted to various hospitals in Srinagar.

The officer said, "The blast site was rounded up by security forces. No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion yet."

State security forces are on high alert to prevent militants from disrupting official functions being planned for the 60^th Independence Day celebrations. The separatists have called for a shutdown on Wednesday.