Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 14, 2006
Barely 13 days after having killed 19 Hindus
in Kulhand area, militants struck once again killing two more Hindus and injuring
39 others when they lobbed a grenade on a BJP's protest rally, which was demanding
adequate security for minority community members in the region.
This is the second militants attack on minority
community members during the last fortnight in Doda, which is the native district
of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Today's attack came around at 11.25 am
when surviving Hindu villagers from Kulhand along with people from other parts
of the district were taking out a procession organised by local Bharatiya
Janata Party leaders. The deceased have been identified as Bharat Bhushan
of Tantana (Doda) and Munshi Ram of Thopal (Batote). Seven of 39 injured were
airlifted to Government Medical College Hospital at Jammu in an LAF helicopter,
said the hospital's medical superintendent. The attack triggered tension in
the town, with shopkeepers from both the communities immediately closing their
establishments.
According to the eyewitnesses, the procession
was heading towards the office of Deputy Commissioner at that time. After
the grenade blast, people ran helter-skelter for safety and within minutes,
the area wore a deserted look with only injured seen lying on the road in
pool of blood.
The local people immediately rose to the occasion
and rushed injured to the district hospital for treatment. The police and
Para military forces also swung into action and cordoned the area. Agitated
after the incident, BJP activists had heated exchanges with the hospital staff,
who suspended work for some time. However, following assurance from district
administration of action against the guilty, the hospital staff resumed work,
sources added.
Dr Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Medical Superintendent
of the district hospital, said that they have lodged an FIR against three
BJP activists for misbehaving with the hospital staff.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, P R
Manhas said that BJP activists were holding dharna for the last many days
and when they were taking out a procession near the bus stand, someone threw
a grenade.
