Monday, June 27 2005 21:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Home A R Veeri today (Jun 27, 2005) escaped a possible assassination attempt when police overpowered a Hizbul Mujahideen militant armed with grenade, minutes before he was to address a meeting in Anantnag district of the State.

The militant Bilal Ahmad Magray, a resident of Madhama village, was arrested alongwith a live grenade by alert policemen at Marhama in Bijbehara, about 50 km from Srinagar, minutes before Veeri was to address a public meeting, Deputy Inspector General of Police, south Kashmir, Sheikh Owais Ahmad told sources in Srinagar.

Veeri was moving towards the dias to address the gathering after laying a foundation stone when the policemen from Bijbehara police station, the home town of Veeri as well as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, observed suspicious movement of the militant.

They immediately cornered him and recovered the grenade from his possession, the officer said adding he was assigned the task to target Veeri.

While the militant was disarmed, Veeri was escorted to a safer place and later he addressed the gathering, the DIG said adding the ultra was questioned and some more arrests and recovery of weapons are expected.