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Kashmir Lawmaker Escapes Bid on Life

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 8: A Kashmiri lawmaker and leader of a pro-Indian Communist Party of India (M) escaped a bid on his life when armed militants attacked his motorcade in militancy infested South Kashmir in the restive Kashmir Valley.

Police said that that a group of heavily militants fired automatic weapons at the motorcade of CPI (M) lawmaker identified as Mohammad Khalil Naik near Chak Cholina, Shopian in South Kashmir this afternoon.

The lawmaker's security guards, traveling with him, returned fire, triggering an encounter. The exchange of fire between the militants and the Indian soldiers continued for nearly 15 minutes, during which, some bullets fired by militants hit the bullet proof vehicle. However, they failed to pierce the vehicle.

After the 15 minute gunfight, the militants fled from the spot and later the lawmaker, who had escaped unhurt in the attack, was taken to safety by the Indian police and para-military personnel.

Immediately, police and para military reinforcements were rushed to the spot and they launched a massive combing and search operation in the area to flush out the militants responsible for the attack. The combing operations lasted for nearly two hours. No arrests were reported.

No militant group has so far taken responsibility for the attack. The top police and para-military officers, however, suspect pro-Pakistan militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, behind the attack. "Since the Hizbul militants are active in the belt, the attack would most probably be carried out by the Hizbul militants", a top police officer said.

He said that police launched investigations to unravel the militant hand in the attack.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.