Srinagar, January 24
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had a narrow escape in a militant attack on her convoy in the down town city this afternoon. Elsewhere in the state, two persons were killed and 21 others were injured overnight.

However, her office said she was fine and they had no information about any attack.

Official sources said militants hurled a hand grenade towards her convoy at Ahmad Nagar Soura, about 15 km from here, this afternoon.

They said the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside causing damage to an escort vehicle. A constable was injured in the incident. However, officially it was not confirmed.

Militants, opposing the local body election in the valley, have killed a Congress candidate at Baramula. They also attacked the election rally of the National Conference with a hand grenade at Alamgari Bazar that left three persons dead and 10 others injured since the election process started in the state.

Sources said militants hurled a hand grenade towards security forces at the Kulgam bus stand this afternoon. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside causing death of Mohammad Akram, a vegetable seller, and injuries to 16 others.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals, sources said.

They said militants shot at and wounded a jawan, Kamalnain Singh, at Rainawari this afternoon. He was hospitalised.

Official sources said militants killed a mentally challenged person, Mohammad Iqbal Mir, at Jamnagri Shopian in south Kashmir district of Pulwama last night.

Militants attacked a joint search party of the security forces and the police at Urapora Zainapora village in Pulwama district today. The security forces also retaliated and in the exchange of fire a selection grade constable, Naseer Ahmad, and two civilians were injured. — UNI

Jammu, January 24
The honeymoon between the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and the National Conference patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, which was witnessed during the Id prayers when the two rivals offered Namaz together in Idgah here, did not last even for 24 hours.

The ruling PDP and the Opposition National Conference have renewed their wordy duel when Dr Abdullah levelled an allegation against the Chief Minister that the ruling coalition was “eliminating” NC leaders and workers and was planning to rig the coming civic elections. Mufti’s daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, who heads the PDP, hit back by saying that the charge levelled by the National Conference leadership ahead of the civic poll “is an indication of their imminent defeat, which they want to cover up through wild allegations.”

In a statement, Ms Mehbooba said “when NC leaders visit some areas in the state, only in unavoidable situations like the elections, Dr Farooq Abdullah and his son, Mr Omar Abdullah, NC President, usually resort to levelling baseless allegations against the government and the PDP to make their existence felt.”

She said since the NC leadership had no issue to win back people’s support, it indulged in “character assassination.”

On Sunday, Dr Farooq Abdullah had told newspersons that the Chief Minister was adopting double standards. He explained that “while on the one hand he mouths platitudes assuring free and fair elections, on the other hand NC candidates are being intimidated by the PDP. Our candidates are being threatened to stay away from the political setup.”

The former Chief Minister accused the coalition government of trying to derail the democratic setup in the state.

However, Ms Mehbooba Mufti described the accusation contrary to reality.