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Foreign tourist shot at in Srinagar

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

A foreign tourist was shot at and wounded in the old city of Srinagar this afternoon even as the special secretary, home (in-charge of Kashmir) T R Kakkar reviewed the overall situation in Kashmir with state officials.

The police said gunmen shot at and wounded Czech national Povel Hadil at Khanyar in Old City. The tourist received an injury on his upper right thigh and was shifted to Srinagar's Bone and Joint hospital. After providing him with medical aid, the tourist was discharged.

Povel, currently on a visit to the Valley, is staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake in the city along with his wife. Senior police official rushed to the hospital on hearing about the incident and met the tourist.

Kashmir's Deputy Inspector General of Police K Rajendra told this correspondent that Povel, accompanied by his wife Musilova, had gone to the Rozabal Shrine in Khanyar when he heard a noise and later saw smoke. "Povel told the police that after travelling some distance he noticed blood oozing from his thigh and rushed to a hospital," the DIG said. Doctors say he received a bullet injury. No one has owned up responsibility for the attack.

This is the first time in two years that a foreign tourist has been attacked in the Valley. In 1995 four foreign tourists, including two Britons, one American and one German, were abducted from the upper reaches of Pahalgam and till date nothing is known about their whereabouts. The Al-Faran, a lesser known militant outfit had claimed responsibility for the abductions.

Meanwhile, the special secretary, home, T R Kakkar arrived in Srinagar this morning along with a delegation of tour operators. Immediately after his arrival Kakkar discussed the overall situation with state officials and later left for Gulmarg, where he will spend the night.

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