Srinagar, September 11
In the first major wave of attacks on the electoral process in the state, militants shot dead Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone (44), along with six others at an election rally in Lolab constituency of Kupwara district this afternoon. Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mohammad Shakeel, spokesman and commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (North Kashmir), said a new organisation, Saif-ul-Islam, had been floated to derail the election process in the state. The operation to kill Lone was executed by a 14-year-old Kashmiri boy, Abu Vikas. After carrying it out, he returned safely to his hideout. Another recently formed organisation, Al-Fareen, was looking after the operation.

In all, eight major incidents of attack on political activity were reported from the Valley since yesterday casting an ominous shadow over the poll process.

The second major strike was in Surankote in Poonch district where a group of four militants dressed as Army personnel attacked a Peoples Democratic Party election meeting near the bus stand this afternoon. According to an official spokesman, they hurled hand grenades at the gathering before resorting to indiscriminate firing from automatic weapons. As many as 12 persons, including four BSF personnel and two policemen, were killed on the spot. Fourteen others were injured in the attack. In the ensuing encounter, one of the militants was killed. He has been identified as a Pakistani national.

The residence of another minister in the National Conference government, Ms Sakina Ittoo, in Damhal Hanji Pora village in Anantnag district was targeted by militants last night. According to reports, militants threw a grenade at her house but it fell short of the gate. Two passers-by were injured in the attack. Three other incidents of attacks by militants were reported from different parts of the Valley since last night.

According to eye-witness accounts, Lone was addressing an election rally at a school in Takipora this afternoon when the assailant suddenly opened fire at him. The assailant was reportedly sitting in the women’s section of the audience wearing a burqa and had therefore not been thoroughly frisked by the security personnel on duty.

He fired several rounds from his automatic weapon hitting Mr Lone as he was speaking. Mr Lone died while being shifted to a hospital. Three bodyguards of Lone were killed on the spot while three police personnel and over two dozen civilians were injured in the incident. Election to the Lolab Assembly constituency has been countermanded as Lone belonged to a recognised political party.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah rushed to Kupwara on hearing about the incident. Mr Lone’s funeral will take place tomorrow. The government has announced a state mourning tomorrow. Lone held the Home portfolio before he was shifted to Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

Meanwhile, a Congress rally, which was to be addressed by Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was cancelled after the attack in Surankote.

A Congress candidate, Mr Tariq Mohi-ud-Din, was attacked last evening at Balpora in Budgam district by militants who threw a hand grernade at his car and then resorted to firing.

In another incident, a National Conference women’s wing activist Mehra Begum was also shot by militants in Syed Karim village in Baramulla district last night. Meanwhile, security personnel gunned down five militants in different parts of the state over the past 24 hours.