3 J & K Candidates Attacked, 15 Others Killed

Militants attacked the houses of two National Conference candidates in Srinagar and also made an attempt on the life of an Independent candidate, Ghulam Mohammad Sarori, at Gandoh last evening.

Work in all government, semi-government, public undertaking, banks, courts and educational institutions remained paralysed since August 24 due to a bandh call by Shoura-e-Jehad in protest against elections.

Militants attacked security forces vehicles and patrol parties at Bararipora, Sakedafar, Lal Chowk, Gojwara, Khanyar, Miskeen Bagh and Hawal with hand grenades yesterday.

At Lal Chowk, six civilians and two Central Reserve Police Force personnel were injured, of whom one civilian identified as Mohammad Sadiq Ganai, resident of Harwan, succumbed to injuries on way to hospital.

 

Six civilians were injured at Barraripora while two Border Security Force personnel received splinter wounds at Sakedafar.

An official spokesman said militants hurled a petrol bomb at the residence of National Conference candidate from Hazratbal. The bomb, however, exploded on the roadside without causing any damage.

Akhnoon, who is also the National Conference provisional president, has shifted to security zone after militancy started here.

He said militants hurled a grenade towards the residence of Ghulam Hassan Geelani, National Conference candidate from Badgam at Peerbagh on Monday evening. The grenade exploded near the house and caused damage to window panes. No one was hurt.

The spokesman said militants fired upon Ghulam Mohammad Sarori, an Independent candidate at Gandoh. Sarori, however, escaped unhurt but a Sajad Hussain sustained bullet wounds.

He said security foces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused an improvised explosive devicefiltrators were killed.