Archives

At least five civilians, one a high school student, were killed Thursday when a bomb exploded in a crowded marketplace in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said.

A police spokesman said five civilians were also injured when the blast went off late morning in the northern town of Baramulla. One of the injured later died in hospital.

The remaining four injured people were in a serious condition and shifted from a hospital in Baramulla to another in the state capital Srinagar.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the blast, but police said it was triggered by suspected militants trying to target a military convoy which had passed by a little earlier.

The spokesman said the bomb was hidden under snow and the blast occurred when a snow cleaning machine was clearing the road in the morning.

The explosion brought the busy market area to a halt, with all shops and businesses immediately downing shutters.

Police cordoned off the area of the explosion and launched a search operation for the culprits.

Observers said the blast was likely to be a setback for the Indian federal government's peace efforts with militants waging an armed insurgency.

On Wednesday, India announced that retired bureaucrat N.N. Vohra would become New Delhi's envoy for dialogue with the rebel groups.

More than 37,500 people have died in Kashmir since the insurgency against Indian rule began in 1989, according to security forces. Separatists put the death toll twice as high. 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager