On Delhi visit eve, Mirwaiz home comes under attack

The attack took place around noon when a grenade landed near the boundary wall of the Mirwaiz home, a few metres short of a tin shed housing policemen on guard duty.

As the grenade exploded, policemen fired several rounds and the entire locality came to a standstill. The firing, said policemen there, lasted for ten minutes and was “in response to militant fire which followed the grenade”.

Kashmir IGP S M Sahai said “the attack is linked to ongoing political activities… on our part, we have taken every step to protect the life of the Mirwaiz”.

Angry over the attack, people protested in the streets of Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta and Khaniyar, shutting down shops and pelting stones at police. At Lal Chowk too, they shouted slogans against Geelani.

The attack came at a time when there’s deep division among separatists over the peace process. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, speaking to The Indian Express, said he was “undeterred” by the attack. “The Hurriyat will go ahead with its programme, come what may. Our mission is to work for an acceptable settlement of Kashmir. Nobody can take us away from this path. There are some political forces who are using militancy for own petty ends, trying to establish their political hegemony. Let them know that we will not be cowed down by such attacks.”

When his comments were sought, Geelani condemned the attack and claimed security agencies were behind it. “The difference between us is only ideological, not personal. There is no place for violence. Why don’t you take into consideration that I myself have been attacked fourteen times,” he said.

Afzal plea with Govt: Kalam office

NEW DELHI: Responding to a January 13 report which mentioned that the mercy petition filed by Mohammed Afzal, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case, is pending with President A P J Abdul Kalam, S M Khan, Press Secretary to the President, has clarified that Rashtrapati Bhavan had referred the petition to the Government which was still to get back with its comments.