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Kashmir minister survives another attack
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir (CNN) -- Kashmir's only female minister has survived a second assassination bid within the past 24 hours by suspected Islamic militants -- the fourth attack overall on her life since election campaigning began in the Indian-controlled region. Indian police say a paramilitary guard and a bystander were killed when gunmen detonated a remote-controlled bomb before opening fire at Tourism Minister Sakina Itoo's vehicle convoy on Saturday. An escort car, which was carrying the guard, was destroyed in the attack but Itoo was not injured. The strike, which happened in Mirhama about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Srinagar, comes a day after suspected militants launched a grenade attack at Itoo's house. No one was injured in that attack as the lobbed grenade failed to detonate, Reuters news agency reported. Last weekend, Itoo escaped injury when suspected militants detonated a mine as her convoy passed by and then opened fire on the vehicles. However, one of her bodyguards was killed and another wounded. Violence intensifiesIn a separate incident on Saturday, a National Conference political worker with the National Conference was shot by suspected militants in Anantnag, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside Srinagar, police said. Elsewhere in more recent election related violence in Indian-controlled Kashmir:
Security callMore than 450 people, including a ruling party National Conference minister and dozens of political activists, have been killed in a wave of violence that has surrounded state elections in Kashmir since they were announced last month. India blames the violence on Islamic seperatists, fighting for an end to Indian rule in its part of Kashmir, who have vowed to derail the poll by attacking anyone involved in it. Kashmir enters the second phase of its four-phase voting on Tuesday. The election's final phase will be on October 8. Voting for the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir state assembly is being staggered to allow India to put adequate security in place. For the first phase, 45,000 security personnel were deployed but an increase in attacks has prompted calls for additional security provisions to be made.
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