'Militants may show presence during round-table'

Srinagar, May 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today expressed apprehension about mischief by ''some boys'' in the state coinciding with the second round-table conference here on May 24-25 to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

''The round-table is of international significance. Some boys here and there will like to create a situation that they are very much here,'' the Chief Minister said, while addressing the Executive Meeting of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here.

The Prime Minister will arrive here on May 24 to attend the round-table conference.

The Chief Minister, however, said such incidents should not deter industrialists, who have gathered here for the meeting, from investing in the state.

He assured them full protection and all facilities.

Militants have struck in a major way in the past whenever any major conference was organised in Kashmir or some international event took place.

At the time of the Inter-State Council (ISC) Meeting a few years back, militants struck in a big way and set ablaze a hotel in the hear of the city. The encounter lasted whole night.

Militants also struck at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) and burnt the historic building on April 6, 2005, a day prior to the launch of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.

UNI

Related Stories