2001 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly car bombing

On Monday, 1 October 2001, three militants belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out an attack on the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar using a Tata Sumo loaded with explosives, ramming it into the main gate with three fidayeen suicide bombers.[1][2] 38 people, plus the three attackers, were killed.[3]

2001 Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly car bombing
LocationSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates32°44′06″N 74°51′47″E / 32.735°N 74.863°E / 32.735; 74.863
Date1 October 2001
Attack type
4 bombings
Deaths38
Injured60

Attack

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The attack took place at about 2 pm, one hour after close of business. One terrorist attacker drove a Tata Sumo loaded with explosives to the main entrance and exploded it. The other militants entered the building and seized control. All militants were killed in the ensuing gunbattle which lasted several hours.[4] No Lawmaker was killed since they were meeting in temporary facilities as the legislature building had recently been damaged in a fire.[5] Many senior leaders had already left the building. The speaker Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil was escorted to safety by the security forces.[6]

Aftermath

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The terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility and named a Pakistani national Wajahat Hussain as the suicide bomber.[7] Subsequently, the Indian foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement aimed clearly at the government of Pakistan. "India cannot accept such manifestations of hate and terror from across its borders" said the statement. "There is a limit to India's patience."[8] Farooq Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, eulogized the 38 victims and called for reprisal attacks on Pakistan, where the group blamed for the attack is based. "The time has come to wage a war against Pakistan and to bomb the militant training camps there" he said. "We are running out of patience."[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Terror unleashes on J&K State Legislative Assembly
  2. ^ Fidayeen storm J&K House, kill 29, The Tribune, 2001-10-02
  3. ^ AN AUDACIOUS STRIKE[usurped], Frontline (magazine), 2001-10-13
  4. ^ Bomb blast at J&K assembly entrance, 29 killed, 40 hurt, Rediff.com, 2001-10-01
  5. ^ 31 Killed in Attack on Kashmir Legislature, Los Angeles Times, 2001-10-02
  6. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. ^ Militants attack Kashmir assembly, BBC, 2001-10-01
  8. ^ Bombing at Kashmir assembly kills at least 29, CNN, 2001-10-01
  9. ^ World Briefing | Asia: India: Kashmir Mourns 38 Attack Victims, The New York Times, 2001-10-04