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Islamic Terrorists Claim Responsibility for Jammu Bombing
date=7/27/95
type=correspondent report
number=2-182631
title=kashmir/bomb (l-only)
byline=michael drudge
dateline=new delhi
content=
voiced at:
intro: an indian news agency says islamic militants have claimed
responsibility for a bombing in the northern city of jammu that
killed one hindu holy man and left more than 30-people injured.
correspondent michael drudge has more from the v-o-a news bureau
in new delhi.
text: united news of india says a man claiming to be a spokesman
for the harkat-ul-ansar militant organization has called the news
agency to claim responsibility for wednesday's bombing in central
jammu.
harkat-ul-ansar is a radical faction that has declared a ban on a
hindu pilgrimage next week to a holy cave in the northern kashmir
region.
the caller told u-n-i the bomb was planted to show the group can
strike at any place without hesitation if its ban is defied.
the blast came from a motor scooter packed with explosives.
among the casualties was a hindu holy man who had been planning
to go on the pilgrimage, where the devout offer prayers to an
image of the hindu god shiva.
harkut-ul-ansar also claimed responsibility for a similar bombing
last week that killed 17 people and wounded scores of others.
despite the threats against the pilgrimage, authorities are
continuing security arrangements for the event, which last year
attracted more than 40-thousand devotees.
the pilgrimage terminates at a cave in the pahalgam region of the
kashmir valley, the same area where islamic militants have
kidnapped five western tourists. a group named al-faran is
holding the hostages, but threatens to kill them if indian
security forces attempt a rescue operation.
islamic militants have fought indian troops in kashmir since 1989
in a separatist insurrection that has claimed more than
12-thousand lives. (signed).
neb/mwd/rae
27-jul-95 7:40 am edt (1140 utc)
nnnn
source: voice of america
