Suicide bomber targets J&K Assembly

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, OCT. 1. Twenty-two persons, mostly civilians, were killed and 60 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly here today.

In the gunbattle that followed, two militants of the Jaish-e- Mohammad, four employees of the legislature and two BSF jawans were killed and 12 security personnel, including a Superintendent of Police and a Deputy Commandant, injured. The Legislative Council was gutted.

The Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and his Ministerial colleagues had left the venue but the Speaker, Mr. Abdul Ahad Vakil, the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Mr. A. R. Dar, the Law Minister, Mr. Mushtaq Lone, and some other legislators were rescued by the Border Security Force.

Around 1.50 p.m., a Tata Sumo, bearing the registration number, JK01C-1342, forced its entry through a sealed point at the Jehangir crossing towards the Assembly complex. The militants, in police uniform, had hijacked the Government vehicle from Babarshah area. The vehicle went past the barricade, where many security personnel are posted, to the gate. Three militants alighted from the vehicle while the fourth blew himself up along with the vehicle carrying explosives. The vehicle exploded with a deafening sound, killing at least 14 persons on the spot besides smashing a number of vehicles.

Meanwhile, the three militants sneaked into the complex, firing in all the directions. Mr. Lone, who was inside the complex, told The Hindu ``I had just come out of the Assembly and was with the Chairman of the Council when the blast took place. We were told that the militants were inside and had shot at least four persons. The two persons I had sent to inquire about the incident returned with bullet injuries.''

The Director-General of Police, Mr. A. K. Suri, and the Deputy- Inspector General, BSF, Mr. B. N. Kabu, came with reinforcements and rescued him, along with Mr. Vakil, Mr. Dar and many other legislators, Mr. Lone said.

Many Assembly employees were also rescued. Few were holed up inside the complex which caught fire, police said. The MLC, Ms. Dipendra Kour, said she saw two militants wearing the uniform of an Assistant Sub-Inspector and a constable.

The militants engaged the security forces in a gun battle inside the complex, which ended at 8.00 p.m. Two militants and two BSF jawans were killed. Around 12 personnel of the Special Operations group, the J & K police, and CRPF personnel were injured. The SP of the SOG, Budgam district, Mr. Sunil Dutt, and the Deputy Commandant of 66 Battalion, BSF, were also injured. All the roads leading to the area have been sealed and a curfew-like situation is prevailing.

Police said the identity of the slain militants was yet to be established. They were not sure of what happened to the surviving militant. Most probably, he escaped, they said. The deceased included an Under-Secretary of the Assembly, Mr. M. K. Handoo, and the official driver of the Speaker.

The injured were rushed to the hospital where many are battling for their lives. The impact of the blast was such that the sound was heard within the radius of three km. ``I cannot explain what happened. I only know that I am injured in a havoc'' an injured Ashiq Ahmed said.The Assembly had completed its business for the day and the Council had been adjourned shortly before the blast. Dr. Abdullah had left the venue around 1.15 p.m. Mediapersons had also left.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad has owned responsibility for the blast and said the suicide bomber was Wajahat Hussain, a resident of Suba Sarhad Pakistan. The spokesman of the outfit, who rang up a local news agency, CNS, did not divulge the number of other militants or their identity.

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