ELECTION 99
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Militants attack secretariat, five jawans injured

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Several Jammu and Kashmir ministers, senior state officials and scores of employees had a miraculous escape this morning when militants attacked the heavily guarded civil secretariat building with rocket propelled grenades. Five jawans were critically wounded in the five explosions.

Two grenades hit the third floor smashing window panes. One grenade landed on the main entrance resulting in injuries to the jawans. They were immediately shifted to various hospitals. The condition of three of them is stated to be critical.

Doctors at the Soura Medical Institute said that Muzamil, a constable of the state police may not survive as he has received serious injuries on his head. One grenade exploded in the lawn where scores of employees, who were demonstrating to have their various demands accepted, had a miraculous escape.

One grenade had to be defused by the bomb disposal squad. Tension gripped the secretariat premises as the employees and officers who had assembled in the lawn ran helter-skelter for cover. The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister accompanied by the chief secretary and the director general of police reached the premises minutes after the explosions.

Dr Farooq went round the building and met the officials. He enquired about the condition of the injured. Sources said that some ministers were also on the way to their offices when the grenades exploded. They had a close shave.

The Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat who rushed to the area had detailed discussions with the officials of the security branch about the security for the building. Sources said that more paramilitary pickets are being set up around the building to further beef up the security. Militants had been earlier targeting the building with rockets when it used to reopen here after the annual darbar move.

Around the same time a group of militants opened fire on two state police cops at Batmallo killing a constable Bashir Ahmad on the spot. The area was later cordoned off. The injured constable was shifted to hospital and his condition is stated to be critical.

Militants also attacked the residence of Shiv Sena general secretary Abdul Rashid War at Warpora Sopore and took away one Self Loading Rifle and two .303 rifles from his security guards after overpowering them. War was however not present at his residence at the time.

Tell us what you think of this report