Minister in Kashmir Escapes Bid on Life, Guard Killed

Srinagar, Dec 11: A senior minister in Indian administered Kashmir Ali Mohammad Sagar escaped unhurt in a militant attack on Sunday evening. One of his security guards was killed while two others were injured. No militant group has owned up to the attack.

A senior police official said militants attacked Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar by firing from automatic weapons towards him at Shah Mohalla, Nawab Bazar, some 4 kms from Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir at around 2015 hours.

“The minister’s security guards also opened fire. In the militant attack, three of the security guards of the minister and a civilian identified as Ali Mohammad were injured. The minister, however, escaped unhurt in the attack,” he said.

He said the injured were rushed to hospital, where one of the critically injured security guard identified as Gulzar Ahmad was declared dead upon arrival. Two other injured security guards of the minister undergoing treatment in the hospital have been identified as Mohammad Yaqoob and Feroz Ahmad.

Later talking to a Delhi-based news agency, Sagar said, “Thanks to Almighty that I am safe.”

Immediately after the militant attack, top police, security and civil official rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The police and paramilitary soldiers laid siege around the area to flush out the militants responsible for the attack. No arrests were, however, reported.

No militant group has owned the responsibility of the attack.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.