GILGIT, Nov 14: Two people were injured when an improvised explosive device went off in a busy market on Punyal road here. The place of the blast is a few yards from the central Imamia mosque, police said.

Police said it could not be immediately known whether the low intensity bomb was hurled by someone or was planted somewhere. The blast occurred in front of a shop injuring an employee of local government and another passerby, who were taken to district headquarters hospital, an official of the city police station said.

He said police reached the site and started investigations, adding nature of blast was yet to be determined.

Following the blast the enraged residents took to streets and blocked the road by burning tyres and chanting slogans against the administration for failing to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, the chief minister secretariat issued a press note condemning the incident and saying the perpetrators would be taken to task.

Member Legislative Assembly Syed Raziuddin Rizvi also condemned the incident and said it was an attempt to destroy the peaceful environment of the region.

The security was tightened in the city following the incident and law-enforcement agencies increased patrolling on the roads of the town.

Meanwhile, the police claimed to have arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the blast.

Superintendent of Police Tanveer-ul-Hassan told this correspondent that the suspects had been handed over to investigation cell of GB police. He said the DIG Amjad Khan was heading the investigation team.

LAW AND ORDER: The Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Wazir Baig has asked the top administration official to curb incidents of violence and maintain law and order.

Official sources said at a meeting with Chief Secretary of GB Saifullah Chatta the speaker expressed deep concern over growing incidents of violence and directed him to ensure protection to the lives and properties of the public.

“Crush those elements who are bent upon ruining the peaceful atmosphere in the region,” the sources quoted him as telling the chief secretary.

The chief secretary told Mr Baig that under the special package announced by the prime minister the amount was being distributed among the affected people.—Correspondent