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Villagers' warning saved APHC chief's life

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Butt Thursday escaped a bid on his life when a bomb strapped to his car was detected in the nick of time and defused.

Butt was in Tarzoo village near Sopore to meet the family of a victim of Hygam firing. He later addressed a gathering and was about to get into his car for the return journey when villagers spotted a bomb under his car and alerted his securitymen.

"The timely detection of the bomb tied to my vehicle saved me and nine others," the APHC chairman said in Srinagar.

"As we were preparing to leave, the villagers shouted that there was a bomb tied to my vehicle. We immediately jumped out of the vehicle," Butt said.

"My security guards later handed over the handgrenade to the police."

A senior police officer confirmed that his department is in possession of the handgrenade found from Butt's car.

"This seems to be the handiwork of the people who are unhappy with the extension of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir," Butt said.

He said the ceasefire extension must be followed up by talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. "The situation is grave and there is no alternative for India, Pakistan and Kashmiris but to hold talks," Butt said.

Meanwhile, Baramulla town is tense following the killing of a Sikh police driver Thursday afternoon. Police said militants opened fire on the vehicle of a deputy police superintendent in Baramulla killing his driver Paramjeet Singh.

As the news about the killing spread in the town, angry Sikhs came out in Khawajabagh locality and shouted anti-administration slogans.

EARLIER REPORT
Grenade found in Hurriyat chief's car

The Kashmir ceasefire: The complete coverage

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