Militants carried out an attack on a rally organised by the Youth Congress to remember Rajiv Gandhi on his 15th death anniversay.
Updated at 6.20 pm
NEW DELHI: The Home Ministry has despatched a team of top officials led by Special Secretary (Internal Security) G S Rajagopal to Srinagar for an assessment of the situation in the wake of Sunday’s terrorist strike at a Congress rally there, official sources said.
The visit by the top officials, including a senior officer from CRPF, comes ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to Srinagar from May 24 to attend the second round table conference with Kashmiri groups and individuals.
"The Special Secretary (Internal Security) along with Inspector General (Operations) of CRPF has been rushed to Srinagar for an assessment of the situation," official sources said.
Two specialist doctors are also accompanying the team to treat the injured in the attack.
Earlier, militants carried out a suicide attack on a Youth Congress rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Park killing five people and wounding 22, including an IGP and two DSPs, while losing two of their own men.
A string of deafening explosions rocked the area during the exchange of fire between security forces and militants sparking panic in the entire city.
The attack on the rally, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Congress to remember former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 15th death anniversary, took place at 1315 hours, official sources said.
An Indian Reserve Police jawan was among the dead, they said, adding IGP (Kashmir) K Rajendra Kumar, who received bullet wounds in legs, was admitted to hospital and was out of danger.
J&K Congress chief and Youth Services and Sports Minister Peerzada Mohammad Syed and other party leaders had a providential escape.
Two Deputy Superintendents of Police were also wounded in the attack, which took place minutes before Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was scheduled to arrive at the venue.
Eye-witnesses said a number of militants disguised as policemen hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately targeting Congress leaders sitting on the dais.
Al Mansoorian, a shadowy outfit of pro-Pakistan Lashkar-e-Toiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Senior police officials, however, suspected it to be the handiwork of Al-Umar Mujahideen.
Bullet proof vehicles were pressed into service to evacuate the injured to hospitals, sources said.
People ran for cover when the gunshots rang out. Panic soon engulfed the entire area including Lal Chowk, the summer capital's business hub.
Sources said nearly 2,000 people were inside the Park when the attack took place.
Condemning the attack, a Home Ministry spokesman in New Delhi said such incidents would not hamper the on-going peace process in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The Union Home Ministry is in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government and is keeping a regular watch on the situation," he said.
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