Kashmir chamber smells rat in attack on tourists

Srinagar, June 1 (UNI) The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has condemned the grenade attacks on tourists at Dal Lake here and termed it ''a conspiracy against the tourism industry in the Valley''.

In a statement here, KCCI President Rouf Ahmad Punjabi said the chamber was ''smelling a rat in the attacks'' on tourists.

He said during the past 16 years, there has never been any attack on the tourists. ''It seems that two attacks on tourists in just one week was a conspiracy against Kashmir,'' Mr Punjabi added.

''We have a long history of hospitality in Kashmir. Just a few years ago, Kashmiris had opened their houses and rescued the pilgrims who had been caught in bad weather while on their way to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath,'' he said.

The KCCI President said the attacks would severely affect the economy of the state. ''We appeal to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to probe into the attacks so that culprits are brought to the book,'' he added.

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