M A I N   N E W S

Protest against attacks on tourists
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 14
A complete shutdown was observed and demonstrations were held in Tangmarg town, gateway to the tourist resort of Gulmarg, in protest against the grenade attack on a tourist bus at Gulmarg in which 13 tourists were injured on Wednesday.

The demonstrators, mostly traders, shopkeepers, ponywallas and others associated with the tourism trade, protested in the town.

Normal life in the town was completely affected while other areas remained unaffected. The demonstrators expressed concern over the grenade attack, first of its kind at the picturesque tourist resort of Gulmarg.

Former Tourism Minister and sitting MLA of Tangmarg, Ghulam Hassan Mir condemned the grenade attacks in Gulmarg and Srinagar saying it was an example of a barbaric act. “Those who did it do not deserve to be called humans”, said Mir. He described the attacks as an attempt to malign the traditional hospitality of the Kashmiris.

The authorities here opined that this was a matter of concern as it had been for the first time since the eruption of militancy 17 years ago in Jammu and Kashmir that tourists were being attacked. A special police team has been constituted to investigate the incidents.

The police apprehended one Mohammad Afzal Rather, alias Saleem, suspected to be involved in the grenade attacks here on Tuesday with the help of local people. He, according to the IG Police, Kashmir range, Mr S.M. Sahai, was suspected to be involved in Srinagar grenade attacks. The IGP appreciated the peoples’ gesture and said the police department had announced Rs 1 lakh reward to anyone providing clue or help in identifying the culprits involved in grenade attacks. Four others had been arrested.

A sketch of one Mudasir, alias Raju, alias Mansur, of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Al-Mansoorian was also released by the police here on Wednesday last, who is believed to be the mastermind of the series of grenade attacks here. It has also announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the militant. Sources said the investigations revealed that the series of attacks was a joint work of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Mansoorian outfits. The arrested militant had admitted that he had come here the same day along with six other militants from Anantnag, Ganderbal and other places and grenades were supplied to them here, an official said.

Describing the attacks as unfortunate, officials of the Tourism Department here said that it was a “dangerous development”, while the department was working at its best to attract more tourists to the valley. “The attacks are targeted on the tourism industry, backbone of the economy of Kashmir. There should be an end to it. We want to retain hospitality for which Kashmir is known for”, a senior official here said.