By IANS,
Srinagar : Security was beefed up in Srinagar Monday, a day after a Jammu and Kashmir minister escaped a bid on his life — an incident he described as “a cowardly act of terrorism”. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked for a thorough investigation into the attack.
Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in big numbers at major markets, traffic intersections and around sensitive installations.
Though Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar escaped a guerrilla bid on his life in Old City Nawa Bazar locality, one of his bodyguards was killed in the attack while three — two bodyguards and a civilian — sustained bullet injuries.
Speaking to the media at an official function to lay wreaths on the body of the slain police constable, Sagar said: “Whomsoever did it. It was a cowardly act of terrorism.
“They did not spare even a social function. I had gone there to attend a social function and immediately after I entered the house, they opened a volley of gunfire, killing one of my security guards and wounding three other people.
He said the slain guard, Gulzar Ahmad, has four daughters “and one of them is mentally challenged”.
The minister, however, said there was no security lapse.
A high-level security review meeting is being held in Srinagar to take stock of the overall security situation in the wake of the militant attack.
The attack comes at a time when the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been strongly pushing for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Srinagar, Badgam, Samba and Jammu districts.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday asked for a thorough investigation into the militant attack on Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar at his home in Srinagar a day earlier that killed his bodyguard.
“The chief minister wants a comprehensive report and how it happened and what were the loopholes,” said a senior official quoting Abdullah’s instructions to Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda.
Wani and Khoda will visit Srinagar to assess the situation and report to the chief minister by evening, the official who did not want to be named told IANS.
The assassination bid on Sagar took place in the congested Nawa Bazar area in downtown Srinagar late Sunday. One bodyguard was killed and three people were injured when suspected militants opende fire at Sagar’s ancestral residence while he was inside.
There is also a possibility of the government issuing new do’s and don’ts to ministers, legislators and top functionaries of political groups.
Abdullah has spoken to Sagar and assured all possible security to him and his family, the official said.