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'I am surprised how militants managed to enter the assembly complex'

"I was sitting in my office and suddenly there was a huge blast," Jammu and Kashmir assembly Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil said of the suicide attack on the assembly compound on Monday morning.

"For some time, I did not know that it (the explosion) had occurred was at the main entrance of the assembly complex and I continued meeting visitors from my Sopore constituency."

"Then, I heard sounds of gun fire. The visitors and other employees immediately ducked and took shelter in my office while some others were running helter-skelter."

Despite the tension, Vakil tried to calm those around him.

"Till then, I did not know that militants were already inside the complex. Later, there were a series of grenade explosions inside the complex."

Outside, State Director General of Police A K Suri, who rushed to the spot along with senior army and paramilitary officers, was making arrangements to evacuate those trapped inside.

"They (security personnel) came in bullet proof vehicles," said Vakil.

However, firing by militants hampered the rescue operations.

After repeated attempts, Vakil was escorted out of the assembly complex in the face of heavy firing.

"As I reached the main entrance, I saw death and destruction all around with bodies lying scattered and cops trying to shift the injured to hospitals."

"There was blood splattered all around and there were heart rending scenes."

"I am surprised how the militants managed to enter the assembly complex. The security was tight all around."

"When I reached my home, I was shocked to hear that my driver Ashok Kumar was among the dead. He had been with me for the past five years," Vakil said.

"Ashok was from the state police and was to get married next month in Jammu."

Only a few hours before the attack took place, the Speaker had extended the ongoing session by two more days on the request of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah.

"But now that the assembly building has been destroyed we will have to see if we can continue the session."

Abdul Ahad Vakil spoke to Mukhtar Ahmad

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