Omar Abdullah escapes another bid on life

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JUNE 23. The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr. Omar Abdullah, a Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Mushtaq Lone, and Mr. Shariefuddin Shariq, MP, escaped an attempt on their lives when militants fired rifle grenades at the helicopter in which they were flying to Sogam village of Kupwara district today.

According to reports, the three National Conference leaders took off from Srinagar for Sogam, the home village of Mr. Lone to address a public meeting.

As the pilot was trying to land in a government school ground, militants hiding in the nearby jungles fired at least four rifle grenades towards the helicopter.

The leaders later landed in district police lines at Kupwara. Mr. Omar Abdullah wanted to reach Sogam by road but he was advised against it by the district authorities.

Mr. Lone confirmed that rifle grenades were fired at the helicopter.

Reports from Kupwara, however, said that panic gripped the entire area after the grenades exploded. The meeting scheduled to be addressed by the three NC leaders was cancelled.

Mr. Abdullah had escaped a similar attempt in Srinagar last month.

Meanwhile, two militants and a security personnel were killed in a gunbattle in Hafruda forests. Reports said that security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

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