Grenade kills one at Indian poll rally

A grenade was thrown into a crowd at an election rally in Indian-controlled Kashmir today, killing one person and wounding at least 21 others, police said.

Lal Singh, the health minister in Jammu-Kashmir state, was addressing the rally in Banihal, about 60 miles south of Srinagar, when the attack occurred. He was not injured.

One civilian was killed and 21 people wounded, including several policemen, a local police officer said on condition of anonymity.

Police suspect the attack was carried out by rebels who have been fighting since 1989 to separate Jammu-Kashmir from India.

Several militant groups have called for an election boycott, and some have threatened death to participants.

India’s Parliament elections will be held in stages from April 20-May 10.