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

Search Rediff

Bomb explodes outside NC MLC's house

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Militants struck yet again in the state's winter capital -- Jammu -- today, even as the police sounded a general alert.

An attempt was made in the wee hours today on the top counter insurgent-turned-National Conference MLC, Javed Ahmad Shah at Roop Nagar in Jammu. A senior police officer said that a powerful bomb exploded outside Shah's heavily guarded residence. The blast was followed by a grenade explosion and firing from automatic guns.

Policemen guarding the house returned the fire and the exchange continued for sometime. The militants later managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

Senior police and security force officers have rushed to the spot and a massive combing operation has been ordered.

Sources said the security around Javed Shah's residence has been tightened.

In another incident a car bomb exploded at Company Bagh near government quarters early this morning. No one was injured. Window panes in the adjoining buildings cracked under the blast's impact.

State police chief Gurbachan Jagat visited several areas in Jammu and discussed the overall situation with senior officers.

Late in the afternoon militants attacked some members of the Central Reserved Police Force near Waghoora, where they blasted an electric tower recently.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot and the area has been cordoned off.

Tell us what you think of this report