JeM greets J&K CM with blasts

The bomber blew up the car about 15-km from the venue of swearing-in ceremony, killing 6.

Ghulam Nabi Azad was on Wednesday sworn in as the tenth Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir hours after a suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden car on the outskirts of the city killing six persons, including himself and injuring 18 others.

HT Image

The oaths of office and secrecy were administered to Azad by the state Governor Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention complex on the banks of Dal Lake at 5.15 PM.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, former chief ministers Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Farooq Abdullah, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir Ambika Soni were among the prominent personalities present on the occasion.

BLASTS WELCOME CM

The bomber, belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed, blew the vehicle up at about 15-km from the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, the venue of the swearing-in ceremony, and near the private residence of outgoing Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed when challenged by security forces during a random search.

The terrorist refused to stop the vehicle and as a constable tried to block his way, he blew up the car at around 11.10 am.

The condition of eight of the injured was stated to be serious. Among them were three traffic police constables, hospital sources said.

"The car bomb is our first gift to Ghulam Nabi Azad," a man, identifying himself as Abu Quduma and claiming to be a spokesman of Jaish-e-Mohammad told a local news agency.

He identified the bomber as Mohammed Mubashir Hussain, a resident of Abbaspora village in Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.