Wednesday, July 6 2005 18:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Militants today (July 6, 2005) fired on the car of Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Public Health and Engineering Syed Bashir Ahmad, who said he was not inside the vehicle but police claimed that they "rescued" him.

Bashir Ahmad said he was not in the vehicle at the time of the attack at Budshah Chowk in the heart of the city as he was at the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's residence.

"I was already at the Chief Minister's residence. My vehicle was coming from civil secretariat to pick me up when it came under attack," the Minister said.

Senior Superintendent of Police, city, Syed Ahmad Syed told reporters that Bashir Ahmad was rescued by police but the tyres of the bullet proof vehicle of the Minister as well as the police vehicle escorting him suffered damages as a result of intense firing by militants.

Two jawans were injured when the Minister's car was fired upon by two militants from AK 47 rifles this evening, official sources said.