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Three injured by blast on Kashmiri bus route

A bomb exploded, injuring three people, and two others were defused yesterday on the route of the first India-Pakistan bus across Kashmir ahead of its inauguration this week, as separatist rebels threatened prospective passengers to stay away.

India mounted extraordinary security and detained hundreds of people ahead of the inauguration tomorrow of the passenger bus between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

Three civilians were injured in the explosion at Hanjivira village about 35km north of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, an officer at the police control room said on condition of anonymity. The explosive was placed along the highway connecting Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

The blast occurred soon after a bomb squad defused two powerful bombs placed in plastic bags along the same highway in nearby Palhalan. The bombs weighed 70kg and 60kg respectively, the officer said.

A number of Kashmiri rebel groups have issued death threats against anyone planning to travel on the buses, which they see as a publicity gimmick that will do nothing to bring their goal of independence for Kashmir. The threat was renewed yesterday.

"If you want to let the Indians succeed through your stubbornness, then let it be known that you must suffer with your own ashes and blood," said a statement faxed to reporters.

The statement was signed by four rebel groups: Al-Nasireen (The Helpers), the Save Kashmir Movement, Al-Arifeen (The Pious) and Farzandan-e-Millat (Sons of the Community). The first two are major militant groups, while the others are little-known.There was no way to independently verify the authenticity of the fax.

The trans-Kashmir road, once the region's main highway, has been closed for nearly six decades because of the enmity between India and Pakistan. Security in Indian-controlled Kashmir, already very tight, has been stepped up dramatically, with hundreds of soldiers and police deployed along the length of the 110km route the bus will take to the Line of Control.
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