SRINAGAR, India, 14 June 2005 — A car bomb killed 15 people, including two students and three policemen, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town, 40 km from here, yesterday. At least 100 people were injured, police said.
Police kept Srinagar streets free of traffic jams to allow free flow of vehicles carrying the injured to local hospitals. Forty-six of the wounded were brought to Srinagar’s main SMHS hospital for treatment. Doctors at the hospital described the conditions of 16 of the injured as critical.
“Twelve civilians and three paramilitary officers are among the 15 killed in this attack. Nine people died on the spot while the others succumbed to their injuries at SMHS hospital here,” said a senior police officer.
The massive explosion was set off in a parked Maruti car by militants through remote control. The car was loaded with explosives.
Over two dozen shops were destroyed in the explosion. Several vehicles that had been parked outside a local post office and the State Bank of India building were destroyed in the blast. An adjacent school building was also damaged and at least a dozen children were among the injured.
“There was hustle and bustle in the town when suddenly all hell broke loose. There was a thick cloud of smoke in the air and bodies on the ground,” Abdul Rashid, a witness, said.
In a nearby police station wailing people were trying to identify the dead.
No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Sandals, shoes and broken vehicle parts were strewn across the road, which was stained with pools of blood. Some distance away, textbooks and writing pads lay scattered in a damaged school classroom.
It was the worst incident of separatist violence in Kashmir since moderate separatist politicians began a historic trip to Pakistan on June 4 for talks on the disputed Himalayan region, claimed by both India and Pakistan.
“After a loud explosion I fell down and could only hear people screaming for help. After a while I saw both my legs were bleeding,” one of the victims, Mohammad Shafi, said. “I have never witnessed such a devastating blast. We are still waiting for details,” police officer Abdul Rashid said.
Bomb blasts and gun battles occur almost daily between rebels and Indian troops, despite an 18-month peace process between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars over the region.
“I expressed my grief and sorrow over the attack. It’s a bloody act and we condemn such acts,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, leader of Kashmiri Muslims, said in Pakistan where he is heading a visiting delegation from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
Indian intelligence officers say security forces are preparing for more violence in Kashmir. “Militants are not happy with the ongoing peace process. They are also desperate after losing their top brass. So they will try to repeat such acts in future,” said a senior intelligence officer, who declined to be identified.
Police fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse hundreds of people protesting against the blast, blaming it on the government. Three protesters were wounded, witnesses said. “The people are grief-stricken and angry but it is confirmed that the blast was carried out by militants,” said Sheikh Owais, a senior police officer.
Indian Kashmir’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and separatist politicians, including hard-line leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani condemned the attack.
— Additional input from agencies
