Report By IOL South Asia Correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 15 (IslamOnline) - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday escaped with his life when militants fired two rifle grenades at the newly-constructed State Board of School Education building which he was inaugurating at Bemina bypass on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir.

The grenades were fired in quick succession at 12.50 pm this afternoon. While one exploded in mid-air, the other landed in a nearby marsh.

Inspector General of Kashmir Police, K. Rajindra said the grenades fell about 300 meters short of the venue. "One grenade hit the road and exploded in the adjacent marsh. No one was hurt," he added.

"Militants had been hiding in Hamsa Colony, which is around 700 to 800 meters away from the Venue," Rajindra said. He added that since security personnel had been posted in the area, the militants could not get closer to the venue.

Police said "Al-Madina", an unknown group, is responsible for the attack. "Al-Madina, a front for Al-Umar-Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack under a pseudo name because of the current pressure," said Rajindra.

Meanwhile, despite the political "de-escalation" there has been no let-up in the shelling and firing between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu where one child was killed, nine civilians were injured and an equal number of cattle heads perished since Friday evening, official sources said. Two persons were seriously injured at Bandi Chachian village when Pakistani troops targeted it with mortar and artillery fire.

Heavy shelling from across the border also took place in Dhargloon area of the district during the period, sources added. Heavy firing and shelling between the two sides was also reported at Mankote, Sagra, Banal, Challar, Dawrana, Lanaote, Balakote and Basooni in Poonch district.

Shelling also continued in Keri, Chingus and Laam areas of Rajouri district. Six shells also fell near Kashmiri qilla post in Mangalnar village in the district. However, no loss of life or damage to property were reported, sources said.