J&K: Omar Abdullah escapes grenade attack at rally

National Conference president and member of Parliament Omar Abdullah survived an attempt on his life as militants carried out an attack at his north Kashmir public meeting with a powerful hand grenade on Monday afternoon.

14 persons were wounded, including five paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force troopers, two local policemen and seven civilians when militants hurled a grenade immediately after the dispersal of Omar Abdullah's public meeting at Kralgund in the northern Kupwara district.

Police said Omar Abdullah was entering the house of a party worker near the venue of his public meeting in Kralgund village when the explosion occurred.

"All the injured persons have since been evacuated for treatment to the hospital where attending doctors said two CRPF troopers had serious splinter injuries," a senior police officer said.

Omar Abdullah, however, expressed ignorance about the number of causalities and the magnitude of the attack at his rally.

"I was talking to my party workers and having tea with them when I heard the explosion. I have no information about causalities as I immediately left for Srinagar," Omar said when contacted on his cell phone.

Omar's cavalcade, which has a heavy escort of paramilitary and local police and an electronic jammer vehicle, was reinforced for his departure.

The explosion caused heavy panic in the village where people were seen running in confusion and enquiring about their near and dear ones.

The area around the explosion site was immediately cordoned off and searches were carried out.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.