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Seven killed in Srinagar suicide attack

      Srinagar: In a suicide attack on Youth Congress rally at Sher-e-Kashmir here on Sunday, five persons were killed while twenty-two others injured, including an Inspector-General of Police and two Deputy Superintendents of Police. Two militants were killed by the security forces in the counter attack.

     According to eyewitnesses, the attackers acquired entry into the park in police uniforms. Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir Range, K. Rajendra received bullet injuries in his legs but his condition was stated to be stable along with the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Faizal Ahmad. In the exchange of firing between the militants and the security forces lasting nearly three hours, an Indian Reserve Police Force personnel and a militant were killed, officials said. The attack came ahead of the arrival of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to address the rally to mark the 15th death anniversary of former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi at 1.15 pm. Nearly 2000 people, including several Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders, were present at the venue. Militant outfits, Lashkar-e-Toiba and al Mansurian have reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. Condemning the attack, Congress President Sonia Gandhi called it "an act of cowardice". Meanwhile, Union Home Ministry is in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir Government and was watching the situation closely. While condemning the incident, the Ministry said in a statement that such incidents would not hamper the ongoing peace process in the state. The attack is being seen as an attempt to create disturbance ahead of the Second Roundtable Conference on Kashmir to be held on May 24-25 in Srinagar, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Attack not to impede peace process: Centre

       New Delhi: The Centre today said that the terror attack on the Youth Congress rally in Srinagar will not hamper the peace process with Pakistan. Condemning Sunday's attack on a rally where close to 4000 people were present, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "It is only through dialogue that a lasting solution can be found", and that he was "looking forward to visiting Srinagar and participating in the second roundtable meeting on Jammu and Kashmir scheduled to be held between May 24 and 25". Conveying deep sympathies to the families of the deceased, Prime Minister said that such cowardly attacks would not weaken the resolve of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to seek a peaceful resolution to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary, VK Duggal said that the Round Table talks scheduled to take place between May 24 and 25 in Srinagar would go ahead and that the peace process will continue. Coming close on the heels of the May 24 Round Table Conference in Srinagar that has already generated much enthusiasm, Centre sees the attack on the rally as one more example of militants plan to derail the ongoing peace process.

      Meanwhile, Opposition BJP while condemning the attack also flayed Centre for bring soft on terrorist. Addressing a press conference, BJP President Rajnath Singh today said that the UPA Government since coming to power has been soft on terrorist and abrogated the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA), which has led to growing terror acts in the country. Earlier in the day, in a attack on Youth Congress rally at Sher- e-Kashmir in Srinagar , five persons were killed while twenty-two others were injured, including an Inspector General of Police and two Deputy Superintendents of Police. Two militants were killed by the security forces in the counter attack.