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Thursday, Apr 29, 2004

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National

NC candidate escapes

By Shujaat Bukhari

A civilian injured in a grenade explosion being shifted to a hospital in Jammu on Wednesday. - AP

SRINAGAR, APRIL 28. Three persons were killed and nearly 100 injured while the National Conference (NC) candidate for the Udhampur constituency had a miraculous escape and a CPI(M) MLA escaped unhurt in a series of violent incidents across Jammu and Kashmir.

At a meeting about to be addressed by the NC leader and former Minister, Khalid Najib Suhrawardy, a grenade explosion left three persons dead and 61 injured. "I was about to start my speech and the explosion took place, leaving scores of people in a pool of blood," Mr. Suhrawardy told The Hindu over phone. It was known whether the grenade was already there or thrown from a little distance but the impact was too devastating, he said.

Mr. Suhrawardy alleged that the district administration had not made adequate security arrangements at the venue at Baghwa, near Doda.

Out of the 61 injured, nine were airlifted to a Jammu hospital and the others admitted to the district hospital in Doda. The condition of five persons was stated to be critical. An unconfirmed report said that two people died of their injuries in the hospital. Around 1000 people had assembled to listen to Mr. Suhrawardy.

In Shopian area of South Kashmir, militants hurled a grenade at the vehicle of the CPI(M) MLA, Mohammad Khalil Naik, who was going to address a meeting in Bonapora. Nine persons were injuried in the blast. Mr. Naik was campaigning for the party candidate, M.Y. Tarigami.

Ten policemen and 12 civilians were injured when militants hurled a grenade at the police station in Handwara. Three persons were injured seriously and they were shifted to Srinagar. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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