M A I N   N E W S

Bid to kill Farooq’s brother

Srinagar, September 2
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Industries and brother of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal today escaped an attempt on life when militants indiscriminately fired bullets on his motorcade at Khepora in Baramula district, official sources said here.

A group of militants, equipped with sophisticated weapons, opened fire on the motorcade of Mr Kamaal, who is seeking re-election from Gulmarg Assembly constituency, at Khepora soon after he addressed an election rally, the sources said.

There was no casualty in the firing, which took place around 1 p.m. when the minister was heading towards nearby Hardushiva to address another election rally.

A National Conference activist, Mr Farooq Ahmad Lone, was slightly injured due to the smashing of panes of a vehicle, the sources added.

Meanwhile, stepping up attacks on political activists ahead of the Assembly poll militants today killed two ruling National Conference workers and injured another in attacks in the Kashmir valley, official sources said.

Militants abducted and later killed an NC activist, Haji Ghulam Hassan Bhat, in Bandipora area of Baramula district in north Kashmir, the sources added.

The beheaded body of Bhat, a resident of Ayatmullah village in Bandipora, was recovered from the periphery of his village early today.

Militants forcibly entered the house of another National Conference activist Ali Mohammad Dar at Botingoo in Anantnag district of south Kashmir and shot him dead in the wee hours today, the sources said.

In another incident NC activist Habibullah Gojri was shot and critically wounded by ultras at Badamibagh area of Sopore in Baramula district this morning, they said.

JAMMU: A Pakistani militant and a civilian were killed in two militancy-related incidents in Jammu’s division of Doda district since Sunday, official sources said here on Monday.

Militants entered the house of constable Javed Iqbal at Giglani in Marmat area of Doda district on Sunday. PTI