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Surankote MLA, Anantnag police chief escape terrorist attacks

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Militants today tried, unsuccessfully, to blow up the office of the Anantnag district police chief in south Kashmir.

One civilian was killed and 45 others, including two policemen and two special police officers, were injured in the attack.

Nine civilians who were badly injured were rushed to the Soura Medical Institute in Srinagar.

This was the fourth big bomb attack in south Kashmir in the past six days.

The police said militants hurled a powerful explosive device at the office of the senior superintendent of police at Anantnag Chowk. But the bomb missed the target and exploded near the entrance, killing a bystander, Mohammad Youssuf Rather.

The SSP escaped unhurt.

Troops later encircled the area and carried out a search. Security in the entire district, and especially at vital installations, has been tightened and forces have been told to conduct searches.

In another incident in Poonch district, six powerful rockets were fired at the densely populated township of Surankote, but there was no loss of life or property. The rockets were fired from a distance of 1 kilometre.

Troops immediately launched a search, but the attackers slipped away under cover of darkness.

Surankote MLA Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari and his family had a narrow escape in the attack. Three of the rockets were aimed at the government quarters, in one of which Bukhari's family was staying. The windowpanes of Bukhari's house and some others were smashed, but no one was hurt.

Yesterday, 15 persons, mostly pilgrims, were wounded when militants attacked a Border Security Force patrol with a hand grenade near the famed Hazratbal shrine. They were admitted to various hospitals.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is visiting Anantnag tomorrow to review the situation.

In Srinagar too, militants intensified their activities. Two bodies were recovered from Langal Bal in Pahalgam district this morning and sent for post-mortem. No one has yet owned up to the killing.

Meanwhile, the alleged custodial killing of a youth at Rainawari sparked a demonstration at the historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar, led by Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah.

Shah was arrested. Four of his followers were injured when the police resorted to a baton-charge and burst tear-gas shells.

The youth whose death they were protesting against had been arrested a few days ago by the Border Security Force. His relatives alleged that he died of injuries sustained in custody.

In other incidents, three persons were killed by terrorists in different parts of the state.

Official sources said terrorists attacked a security force camp at Bagwanpora in Anantnag with rockets and automatic weapons late last night. The troops retaliated, but there was no report of any casualties.

The sources said two bodies were recovered from Village Wangabal in south Kashmir last night while terrorists shot dead a man, Mohammad Iqbal Wani, at Anchanpora in Anantnag.

Additional reportage: UNI

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