Srinagar: A former MLA and five other persons died when militants hurled a grenade at the entourage of former state minister Sakina Itto in Kulgam, Anantnag district, on Saturday.
Thirty people were injured in the attack. Former National Conference MLA Gulam Nabi Dar succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.
Itto, a National Conference MLC, received minor injuries. Itto had stopped at a shrine in Kulgam while on her way to Damhal Hanjipora, her home constituency, which was granted district status by the state cabinet on Thursday.
Five of the injured, including Ghulam Nabi Dar who won assembly elections for the opposition NC in 1977 and 1983 from Kulgam constituency, succumbed to injuries later.
While Azad Ahmad Wani died on way to hospital, Ali Mohammad Zargar, Mohammad Yousuf Wani and Mohammad Yousuf Shah succumbed to injuries at the Anantnag district hospital, the officials said.
A top police official of Kulgam district said Ittoo had violated the security drill by moving into the Kulgam town against the advice of the security agencies.
She was supposed to address a rally at Damhal Hanjipora but on the advice of some people, who might have conspired the attack, went to Kulgam town. The area is congested and not safe, the official added.
Ittoo, whose father was killed by militants in 1990, has survived nearly a dozen attacks since joining politics in 1996. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far
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