Omar Abdullah escapes bid on life in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 9: National Conference (NC) President and former Union Minister, Omar Abdullah, today escaped an attempt on his life when suspected militants fired two rifle grenades near the venue of his public meeting at Handwara in Kupwara district of Kashmir, sources said. They said militants fired rifle grenade towards the house of NC block president Sharifudin Ahmed, where Mr Abdullah was having tea after addressing the public gathering at Sappar Naghama, Qaziabad in Handwara area this afternoon.

At least eight people, including four CRPF men guarding the NC chief, were wounded in the attack.

The sources said that as Mr Abdullah was having tea inside the house, a large number of NC activists besides security personnel had gathered outside to greet him. In the meantime, two rifle grenades fired from an unknown destination fell in the compound of the house after narrowly missing the room where the NC president was sitting.

While eight people, including four CRPF personnel and a policeman, were wounded, Mr Abdullah and other senior NC leaders escaped unhurt in the attack.

The former union minister of state for external affairs had earlier addressed a large gathering in the village.

''I thought as if some heavy stone had hit me. I could not see anything. There was dust all around. The first thing I inquired about was if Mr Abdullah was safe,'' said Ghulam Mohammad Khan.

Khan also told sources over phone from Handwara that he heard a large number of women and children crying after the explosions.

UNI