Srinagar, December 12
At a time when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah advocates revoking of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the abortive attack on the life of Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, in which his security guard was killed, in Srinagar downtown last evening has raised many questions.

The Pakistan-based Jamiatul-Mujahideen outfit has claimed the responsibility of the attack, saying it had been made in reaction to the National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s remarks on “re-opening” of liquor shops and cinema halls in Kashmir.

Jameel Ahmad, claiming to be a spokesman of the outfit, in a statement released to local media agencies said that Al-Jabbar squad had made the attack aimed at killing the senior National Conference leader.

Meanwhile, a hitherto unknown outfit Islamic Movement of Kashmir has also claimed responsibility for the attack.

Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, who arrived here today from Jammu, accompanied by the Director-General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, took a high-level security meeting to discuss and review the overall law-and-order situation in the state.

He asked the civil and police administration to maintain high vigil so that peace is maintained in the region. Those who attended the meeting included Principal Secretary, Home, BR Sharma; ADG Security, Ram Lubaya; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon; IG Kashmir, SM Sahai; IG CID, Dr B Srinivas; IG CRPF, Ravi Prakash Maharda; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mehraj Kakroo; and SSP Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari.

Minister for Rural development Ali Mohammad Sagar escaped unhurt when unidentified militants opened fire on his escort at his ancestral home Shah Mohalla, Nawab Bazar, at around 8 pm last evening.

Three police personnel - Gulzar Ahmad, Mohammad Yaqoob and Feroz Ahmad - got injured in the incident. Later, Gulzar Ahmad succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. A civilian — Ali Mohammad — was also injured in the attack.