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Mukhtar Ahmed in Srinagar
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Omar Abdullah escaped the second attempt on his life in less than a month on Saturday when grenades fired by militants at his helicopter in Sohgam in northern border district of Kupwara missed their target narrowly.
Omar Abdullah, son of J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmed Lone when the attack took place.
"It is a miracle that we are alive. The militants fired three rifle grenades, which just missed our helicopter," a visibly shaken Omar Abdullah told rediff.com minutes after his return to Srinagar from Kupwara.
"The grenades exploded one after the other in air near the helicopter while we were landing. This was a close attempt but we are safe," he told this correspondent on phone.
"Our helicopter tried thrice to land but could not as the security forces closed the helipad after seeing the grenades landing near our plane," said Omar.
"We cancelled our plan to address the meeting. The venue was in the firing range and the militants hiding in the nearby dense forest could have easily targeted the general public," the union industries minister said.
A police spokesman told rediff.com that Omar and Lone were scheduled to address a public meeting at Sohgam, but could not land after the attack. The helicopter subsequently landed at Kupwara, where the two ministers held a meeting with district officials.
Omar Abdullah had escaped a grenade attack at Nawakadal in downtown Srinagar last month.
Speaking to rediff.com in Srinagar, a surprisingly composed Omar Abdullah said: "Militants fired three rifle grenades at my helicopter while it was landing at Sohgam. The grenades missed the target by a few yards."
Abdullah said the grenades were fired from the nearby forest. "The densely forested area in Sohgam is infested with militants," he added.
"I was scheduled to address a meeting at Sohgam. I made three attempts to land, but the security forces had completely blocked the helipad following the attack and we were forced to return," he said.
"I did not want to put the lives of innocent people to risk. I will visit the area soon," he said.
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