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Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Sakeena Itoo on Sunday escaped an assassination attempt when militants attacked her motorcade exploding an Improvised Explosive Device and opening fire in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.
A Central Reserve Police Force sub-inspector was killed and two others were seriously injured in the attack near Dhamhal Hanjipora, they said.
The attack took place around 1230 hours (IST), when Itoo was on way to Danev-kandimarg for an election rally. This was the second attempt on the life of Itoo, seeking re-election from Noorabad constituency of the district, in the past five days.
On Wednesday, militants had hurled a grenade inside her house in Dhamhal Hanjipora, injuring four of her party activists.
Itoo was immediately moved to a safer place and her election rally cancelled.
Security forces sealed off the entire area and launched a hunt for the militants, the sources said.
No militant outfit has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. This is the first major militant strike in south Kashmir going to polls in the third phase on October one.
The attack comes barely five days after the assassination of Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone in Kupwara.
Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage
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