Political space seems to be shrinking for the mainstream constituency following the renewed ‘azadi groundswell’ in Jammu and Kashmir. For the last three days, stone-pelting mobs and unidentified youth attacked two senior ministers, sending shivers down the political and security establishment across the Kashmir valley.
Latest being the J&K education minister Naeem Akthar, close aide of the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. Unidentified people hurled two petrol bombs at Akthar’s residence at Parrypora in Srinagar suburbs on Monday night.
Police sources said one of the bombs exploded while another did not go off. No one was hurt in the attack. However, the glass panes were smashed and house suffered some damages. Akthar was not present in the house when the attack took place. The dducation minister is putting up at his well-fortified official residence at Gupkar.
On July 30, Akthar had a narrow escape when stone throwers attacked his cavalcade at Maloora-Shelwat in Srinagar outskirts.
Akthar was returning home after chairing the security review meeting at Sumbal in Bandipora district of north Kashmir. Police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the mob to ensure safe passage for the minister.
On Monday, cavalcade of J&K law and rural development minister Abdul Haq Khan was attacked by stone throwers in border area of Tangdhar. Khan however escaped unhurt in the attack.
Two days ago senior National Conference leader Iftikhar Misger, who recently contested Anantnag bypolls against J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, quit his party and announced to surrender his security.
Meanwhile, another youth was killed when a personal security officer of a senior officer opened fire on protestors at South Kashmir’s Lethpora village on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Tuesday night.
