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| FIVE INCLUDING FORMER NC MLA KILLED IN GRENADE ATTACK, 42 INJURED | | | SRINAGAR July 8 In yet another major attack aimed at mainstream politicians, five persons including a former legislator of National Conference (NC), Ghulam Nabi Dar, were killed while at least 41 others injured- which include Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Sakina Itoo, and four security forces personnel, in Kulgam area of South Kashmir when militants "rolled" a grenade amidst a crowd that had gathered around a renowned shrine there at 1135 hours on Saturday.
A woman politician of opposition NC Sakina Itoo, 36, MLC, survived a sixth attempt on her life today. Police said that she received minor splinter injuries in her calf muscles and was totally "out of danger".
According to Police at least 19 persons–out of total of wounded 41, have been discharged from Damhal Hanjipora and Kulgam hospitals. Others are being treated in Srinagar and Anantnag hospitals, they added.
Divulging details about the incident Superintendent of Police, Kulgam, S P Pani told KIP that Sakina Itoo was not scheduled to visit Damhal Hanjipora shrine and it was only when NC supporters and workers "compelled" her to go with them for a while the grenade incident took place.
"It was not a security threat by any stretch of imagination", Pani said. He said that Road Opening Party (ROP) had cleared the routes which Itoo was scheduled to follow. But, Pani said, Deputy Superintendent of Police was escorting her en route when NC workers halted her–halt was not in the scheduled programme, and took her to Astanpora where a renowned shrine is located. "Despite non-clearance from security authorities party workers took Sakina Itoo three to four Kms inside the lanes and by-lanes of Astanpora. The entire journey toward the shrine was covered by foot, which also was not in the programme," Pani said.
Apart from Sakina Itoo, two policemen, a CRPF jawan, a Special Police Officer (SPO) and two children were among the wounded," police said.
Ghulam Nabi Dar who won assembly elections for the opposition NC in 1977 and 1983 from Kulgam constituency, succumbed to injuries later. Azad Ahmad Wani died on way to hospital, Ali Mohammad Zargar, Mohammad Yousuf Wani and Mohammad Yousuf Shah succumbed to injuries at the Anantnag district hospital, the officials said. Police officials in Kulgam, some 70 Kms from Srinagar, maintained that Itoo had violated the security drill by moving into the shrine against the advice of the security agencies.
All those injured were not party workers, police said. Traditionally, people in Kashmir throng shrines and many people who had gathered at the Astanpora shrine on Saturday were also injured in the grenade attack.
"She (Itoo) was supposed to address a rally at Damhal Hanjipora but on the insistence of some people, she changed the route," police added. Kulgam area is considered haven of militants.
Itoo's father was killed by militants in 1995.(KIP)
ATTACK WIDELY CONDEMNED:
(KIP)Mainstream politicians have widely condemned today's attack. Former Chief Minister and patron of NC Farooq Abdullah expressed his shock over the attack and death of five persons including his party's former MLA. NC president Omar Abdullah demanded a high level probe into the attack while another middle rung leader of the party Ghulam Ahmed Saloora accussed a PDP minister for masterminding the attack.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that it was an act of cowardice. "Attack, particularly on women is highly deplorable and indicates extreme kind of savageness of those elements who are behind these attacks," he said in a statement. Statement further said that such attacks will not deter people from treading on the path of peace. "Those elements who are trying to sabotage developmental activities and free movement of democratic representatives of the people should realise that their days are counted and public fury will devour them forever very soon," the statement said quoting Azad.
Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Pradesh Congress chief Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, CPM state secretary M Y Tarigami and host of political leaders have condemned the attack in strong words. |
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