Date:13/09/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/09/13/stories/2002091306130100.htm

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Militants open fire in Lone's village

By Our Special Correspondent

SOGAM (NORTH KASHMIR) SEPT. 12. A day after assassinating the Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mushtaq Lone, militants today opened heavy fire in this village even as the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and National Conference president, Omar Abdullah, and a number of Ministers joined thousands of mourners at the funeral of Lone. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, had to delay his landing due to the heavy gunfight which left three Army personnel injured.

Since early morning, hundreds of Lone supporters had started thronging his residence to have a glimpse of their leader, whose body was kept outside his house. They were chanting religious slogans and his relatives were mourning his death.

Amid unprecedented security, Dr. Abdullah and his son, Omar Abdullah, landed in Sogam in a helicopter after addressing an election meeting in Karnah. Many J&K Ministers had already reached the place. As the father-son duo was waiting to receive Mr. Fernandes who was away in Poonch, the entire area rattled with heavy gunfire sending the entire security setup into a tizzy. Panic gripped not only the 3,000-odd people assembled for the funeral, but also the police and the Army top brass. Maj.Gen. Dalvir Singh, General-Officer-Commanding (GOC) of Kilo Force, was running here and there to protect the VIPs and ensuring that Mr. Fernandes did not land as the gunfire was heard a few hundred metres away. The militants were attacking an Army patrol of the 32 Rashtriya Rifles, which was in the area. Three soldiers were wounded in the attack, sources said.

Consequently, Mr. Fernandes's arrival was delayed as the fighting continued for about 25 minutes. He, however, visited Lone's house and consoled the family.

"This is part of Pakistan's plans to disrupt the polls but we are ready to thwart their attempts,'' he said.

The heavy gunfire neither deterred the civilians nor Dr. Abdullah and others who participated in the funeral. Later, Dr. Abdullah said that "this is not going to change our resolve and we will continue to fight back.'' "Everyday Pakistan is planning these attacks and we are preventing these'', he said. Asked whether the Government would order any probe, he shot back "Let us bury the man.''