Minor jolts as militants strike

Militants also struck at Sopore town, a few kilometres off the bus route. Police said militants first threw a grenade towards the BSF camp at Arampora, injuring two BSF personnel. After an hour, militants fired a another grenade at a BSF bunker at Chankhan, injuring a jawan. The next attack came in the afternoon as the bus was on its way to Baramulla. Militants lobbed a rifle grenade towards the highway near Hanjiwera.

Several gunshots were fired at the bus near Singhpora but the Army later clarified that a jawan’s rifle had gone off by mistake. Several other bids were thwarted. Security forces defused IEDs near Pattan. On the outskirts of Baramulla, militants detonated an IED at Khadinyar.

Questions still over security breach

NEW DELHI: A day after the J-K Tourist Reception Centre was attacked, the body of the second militant is yet to be recovered from the debris of the burnt down building. Nor has the identity of the terrorists been established.

Security agencies have confirmed that the terrorists entered the building by scaling the rear fence that was not adequately manned. Officials said the CRPF, which was manning the TRC, spotted the terrorist on the first floor. Though the Home Ministry has been trying to deflect criticism by maintaining that ‘‘fidayeen attacks’’ are difficult to prevent, officials say the attackers should have been prevented from entering the building. They also pointed out that such an attack was anticipated following the threats issued by militants ahead of the inauguration of the bus. ‘‘It appears there was basic error in area domination and perimeter security,’’ a senior official said. —ENS