Author: Khursheed Wani/ Srinagar
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 28, 2003
A diabolically timed terrorist attack
eclipsed the ongoing Inter- State Council meeting here on Thursday as fidayeen
militants struck shortly after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered
his speech at the inaugural session of the two-day meeting. The militants
first targeted the Central Telegraph Office (CTO) in the high security
Civil Lines area on Wednesday evening, later rushing into the adjacent
Greenway Hotel. Security forces have engaged the militants, and the encounter
was continuing at the time of going to press.
A policeman runs for cover moments
after the fidayeen attack in Srinagar on Wednesday - PTI
The attack began when two militants
first lobbed a powerful grenade at the CTO, causing injuries to five security
personnel and three civilians. Sources said that the two militants were
attempting to sneak into the communications centre, which was foiled by
security guards. The militants then forced their entry into the nearby
Greenway Hotel building, which houses several private offices, including
those of some newspapers.
Militant outfit Al Mansooreen has
claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security forces immediately cordoned
off the building and all entry and exit points were sealed. The holed-up
militants are targeting the approaching forces with grenades and automatic
weapons.
In a late night development, five
persons were rescued from the building. It is still unclear how many others
remain inside and whether any have been taken hostage. The rescued persons
said the militants are armed with AK rifles and are carrying a bag of ammunition.
Seven security personnel and two
civilians were injured in the exchange of fire. BSF Deputy Inspector General
Desh Raj was among the seriously injured. A BSF constable, identified as
Des Raj, has succumbed to wounds sustained in the initial grenade attack.
Sources said a former renegade leader,
Javed Hussain Shah, who later became a Member of the State Legislative
Council and unsuccessfully contested Assembly polls on a National Conference
ticket is also holed up in the building. Shah is running a vernacular newspaper
called Wattan. Unconfirmed reports said his bodyguard has been killed in
the attack.
Earlier, in the morning militants
blasted explosive material in an abandoned house at Karan Nagar in Civil
Lines area. No damage was caused due to the blast.
Meanwhile, the Valley witnessed
a complete shutdown against the arrival of Prime Minister and host of Chief
Ministers here. Around two dozen separatists were taken into custody while
attempting to stage a protest demonstration. They were shouting slogans
against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is among the participants
of the meeting.
Senior separatist leader Syed Ali
Shah Geelani had called the strike, which was followed by several militant
outfits and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
The strike brought the life in the
city and major towns of the Valley to a grinding halt. All shops, business
establishments and educational institutions remained closed and the traffic
was generally off the roads.
Meanwhile, the police took about
two dozen separatists, including women activists of Muslim Khawateen Markaz
and JKLF leader Javed Ahmad Mir into custody when they attempted to stage
protest demonstrations against the arrival of the dignitaries. A senior
police officer said that they would be released in the evening.
