Militant flees Mufti rally, leaves behind weapons

Just an hour before J-K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was to address a rally at Bandipora, police foiled a suicide attack and defused...

Just an hour before J-K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was to address a rally at Bandipora, police foiled a suicide attack and defused an IED planted nearby.

Yards away from the venue, a police officer said a suicide bomber escaped leaving behind an AK-47 rifle and two grenades, probably unnerved by the police presence. Similarly, an alert security personnel defused an IED planted near the venue.

Security had been beefed up after a grenade was hurled in Bandipora township, earlier in the day. Sources said a militant sneaked into the high security rally venue. However, regular checking and extra vigilance led to the suicide bomber fleeing the scene, leaving the arms behind.

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When Sayeed arrived in Bandipora, he was taken to the police station and then went to the rally. In a short 15-minute speech, Sayeed slammed the Hurriyat Conference for calling a poll boycott. ‘‘These people have no moral right to call for a poll boycott as they are engaged in talks with New Delhi. You can’t have talks on one hand and call for the poll boycott on other,’’ said Sayeed.

Seeking to take credit for the thaw in relations between India and Pakistan, Sayeed said it was the efforts of the J-K coalition government which brought the neighbours into the dialogue process.

‘‘Earlier they had hostile relations and it was due to our efforts they are talking to each other. Now everybody wants to take credit for it.,’’ said Sayeed.

Trying to reassure the concerns of the unemployed people he said that his government would try to lift the freeze on recruitment in government jobs.