TWO KILLED, 55 WOUNDED IN GRENADE ATTACK NEAR SRINAGAR

29 April 2004, (ANI)

Bhagwah, Apr 28 (ANI): At least two people were killed and 55 wounded in an attack in Kashmir on Wednesday as suspected Muslim rebels stepped up violence to enforce a poll boycott in the disputed region. There was a huge explosion at an election rally in Doda district, south of Srinagar, the region's main city.



C. H. Gulzar, assistant superintendent of police, Doda, said that the explosion took place when former minister Khalid Najib was about to address a rally.



'During the rally, someone hurled the grenade and people got injured...We have not counted the number of people injured but it may around 20,' he said.



Residents said the help from the administration was not immediately available.



'Our children got injured in the rally...we are harassed. We need a vehicle to take them to the hospital. We need help,' said Raheem, a resident.



Najib, a senior member of the National Conference party and a former state minister, is contesting the parliamentary election in the constituency, which is due to vote on May 10.



He blamed the administration for the lack of adequate security arrangements.



'The administration knew that the meeting was being held here..we don't know why was adequate security not provided to us? Is it a joke? All unprofessional people have been deployed here,' said Najib. The level of violence in the troubled state has fallen since India and Pakistan began a peace process last year but there have been attacks in the run-up to India's general election by anti- India militants who say polls in the region are a farce.



About a dozen rebel groups have been battling Indian rule in the Muslim-majority region since 1989. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the insurgency.



Militants and political separatists have called for a boycott of the poll in Kashmir saying elections cannot resolve the decades-old conflict over the Himalayan region that has led to two wars between India and Pakistan.



The militants have attacked politicians, voting booths and party offices since campaigning started for the five-stage poll being held from April 20 to May 10.



Turnout was low in the two rounds of voting in Kashmir so far. (ANI)