PM condemns terrorist attack on Cong rally

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who's scheduled to visit Srinagar to attend the round table conference on Wednesday, May 24, has strongly condemned today's fidayeen attack on a Youth Congress rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Park there.

Five people were killed and 22, including an IGP and two DSPs, were injured in the attack when the two fidayeen militants opened fire indiscriminately at the crowd gathered.The rally was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Congress to commemorate the 15th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, official sources said.

An Indian Reserve Police jawan was among the dead, they said adding IGP (Kashmir) K Rajendra Kumar, who received bullet wounds in legs, was admitted to hospital and was out of danger.

J&K Congress chief and Youth Services and Sports Minister Peerzada Mohammad Syed and other party leaders had a providential escape. Two Deputy Superintendents of Police were also wounded in the attack which took place minutes before Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was to arrive at the venue.

Eye-witnesses said a number of militants disguised as policemen hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately targeting Congress leaders sitting on the dias.

Al Mansoorian, a shadow outfit of pro-Pakistan Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. Senior police officials, however, suspected it to be the handiwork of Al-Umar Mujahideen. Bullet proof vehicles were pressed into service to evacuate the injured to hospitals, the sources said.

Soon after the attack, the exchange of heavy fire between security forces and militants sparked off widespread panic in the city. People ran helter-skelter when the gunshots rang out. Panic soon engulfed the entire area including the business hub Lal Chowk.

Condemning the attack, a home ministry spokesman in New Delhi said such incidents would not hamper the on-going peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. "The union home ministry is in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government and is keeping a regular watch on the situation," he said.

Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Conference has announced that it will meet tomorrow to decide whether to participate in the round table conference or not.