SRINAGAR: The residence of Jammu and Kashmir’s education minister, Naeem Akhtar, was attacked with petrol bombs by unknown persons last night, police said.
Police sources said unknown persons hurled two petrol bombs at the residence of Akhtar, a top leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, on the outskirts of Srinagar last night.
"One of the bombs went off inside the compound while another exploded outside the house. The minister was not present in the house at the time of the attack," sources said.
Sources said the attackers, believed to be protesters from the adjoining localities on Parraypora on the outskirts of Srinagar, fled the scene while a contingent of police and paramilitary laid a cordon around the house.
The attack is the first of its kind in the Valley since the civil uprising broke out last month during which more than 50 civilians have been killed by government forces in retaliatory action while thousands are wounded.
Yesterday, the cavalcade of the rural development minister Abdul Haq Khan was also stoned in Tangdhar area of north Kashmir. The minister escaped unhurt from the attack which was followed up with severe clashes in the area, witnesses said.
Nocturnal protests broke out in Budgam, Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and the summer capital Srinagar last night with protesters, comprising of men, women and children, marching on roads against the civilian killings.
There has been no end to the civilian protests with the tertiary-care hospitals in the summer capital Srinagar flooded with wounded protesters from across the Valley. "In the last three days, more than 100 protesters have been treated at different hospitals," a senior official in the health department said.
Curfew and restrictions continue to remain in place across Kashmir on the 25th consecutive day since the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with government forces in Kokernag village.
A senior police official said curfew would continue in some areas of south Kashmir to prevent "law and order problems" while restrictions under section 144 will remain in force in Srinagar city and other districts.
Educational institutions, banks, government offices and transport services are shut from the last 24 days even as the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday appealed a delegation of civil society in north Kashmir's Baramulla district to make "collective efforts" for restoring normalcy.
(Photographs Basit Zargar)