SRINAGAR, April 15: Nine suspected militants were arrested over a series of grenade attacks in Srinagar that killed five people and injured 43, police said on Saturday.

All nine men, arrested on Friday and Saturday, were suspected of belonging to a militant group Jaish-i-Mohammed, said the region’s police chief, Gopal Sharma.

“Our swift investigations have led to the arrest of nine militants involved in these attacks,” Mr Sharma told reporters in Srinagar.

Security was stepped up since the attacks with troops searching all cars coming into the city and frisking pedestrians.

Security forces were deployed in strength around state-owned radio and television buildings. “We’re on high alert,” police inspector Altaf Ahmed said as his men checked cars with metal detectors.

Mr Sharma said the arrests happened after police seized a minibus late Friday carrying explosives on the outskirts of Srinagar, home to over a million people.

“Our men recovered 38 grenades and other ammunition from the minibus,” said Mr Sharma, adding that questioning of a suspect on the bus led to the arrest of the others.

Six of the nine arrested were from Srinagar. “Interrogations are continuing and more arrests are likely,” Mr Sharma said.—AFP