Tyre burst or security lapse:JK police in dock over Min attack

Srinagar, Sep 4 (UNI) Rejecting the Jammu and Kashmir police claims about the attack on Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President and state Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday, many party leaders have demanded a thorough probe into the incident.

The leaders insist that it was a militant bid on Mr Sayeed's life to weaken the Congress in the state while the police had claimed of tyre burst followed by indiscriminate firing by troops and guards of the senior Minister.

The Congress leaders, including vice-president Bashir Ahmad Magray, termed the attack an ''act of cowardice'', saying such acts will not stop the Congress from working for unity, integrity, peace and development of the state.

Some Congress leaders, on the condition of anonymity, alleged that it was a major security lapse on the part of the state police.

They said the police were well aware that many senior Ministers and VIPs would be on their way to Dangerpora in Sopore area of Baramulla district on Sunday to attend the wedding of the daughter of local Congress legislator Haji Abdul Rashid.

The Congress leaders alleged that the area was not sanitised, thereby allowing the militants to carry out the attack.

They also expressed surprise over the hiring of a private vehicle (Tata Sumo) by the police to escort the senior Minister. The leaders further alleged that the armed policemen in the private vehicle were in civvies.

They said the attack by militants would have proved fatal if the security guards of the Minister had not retaliated. The personal security officers (PSOs) and the escort of Mr Sayeed fired more than 70 rounds while the troops opened thousands of fire.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (North Kashmir) B Srinivas said the officials in the Minister's convoy and some Army personnel mistook a tyre burst as militant attack and fired in the air.

A departmental inquiry has also been initiated into the incident.

This was the ninth militant attack on Mr Sayeed. During one such attack at Larnoo in Anantnag district of south Kashmir 2004, he had received splinter injuries.

UNI