Hizbul attacks NC rally: Candidate escapes, one killed

A man was killed and at least 19 injured when militants targeted a National Conference candidate during his rally in Srinagar today. Ghulam...

A man was killed and at least 19 injured when militants targeted a National Conference candidate during his rally in Srinagar today. Ghulam Muhammad Hakeem escaped unhurt. A resident of Kantibagh, Hakeem was campaigning in Lal Bazar after filing his nomination papers on the last day of filing. The militants made an abortive attempt at his life around 2.15 pm. They hurled a grenade, which missed the target and exploded on the road, injuring 19 people. One of them, Nazir Ahmad Rathher, died in hospital. The injured include two policemen.

The Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack. Militant outfits operating in the Valley have called for a boycott of the civic polls on February 1 in the state after a gap of 27 years. The residents will be electing a mayor for the first time since the Srinagar Municipal Committee was upgraded to Municipal Corporation.

The elections, in 68 wards, are a major security concern for the government. The police are planning to develop a strategy to provide security to the candidates. 8216;8216;We are providing security for candidates. We are waiting for information about the number of fielded candidates. Only then can we decide on the individual security of the candidates,8217;8217; said DIG Kashmir Range H.K. Lohia.

JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah today called for boycott of local body polls. The Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference has started an anti-election campaign in the Valley. Separatist conglomerate headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has also called for the poll boycott. Geelani had parted his ways with the erstwhile Hurriyat, accusing them of not giving a boycott call for 2002 Assembly polls.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More