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Blast in Srinagar kills 6-year-old

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

After a lull, militants struck in the old city of Srinagar on April 15 afternoon, detonating a massive improvised explosive device. The blast claimed a six-year-old child and injured nine, including three members. The injured included three Border Security Force soldiers, two of whom were in a critical condition. A BSF mobile bunker was extensively damaged due to the blast.

Witnesses said that militants had fitted the explosive to a bicycle parked on the road in the old city, which exploded. Senior police and security force officers immediately reached the spot along with reinforcements. The area was cordoned off and massive searches were conducted. However, no arrests were made. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.

In another incident, a top militant of the Hizbul Mujaheedin, identified as Mohammad Sultan, was killed in a fierce gun battle with the special operations group of the state police at Nakra village in Budgam district on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a complete strike was observed in the Jammu city and some other adjoining areas on Tuesday and Wednesday. The call for the bandh (general strike) has been given by the Jammu Joint Students's Federation. The students are demanding the scrapping of the recently released admission list to the medical and dental college courses.

However, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, while speaking in the state assembly, ruled out scrapping of the list and said that, if some irregularity is proven in the selection, then he will refer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The federation has also alleged discrimination against Jammu in the list. Only two day ago, the chief minister had described as unfortunate the impression being created that the "Kashmiri-dominated regime is not doing justice to Jammu."

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