Kashmir: Mysterious explosive baffles cops

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July 31, 2007 12:26 IST

Mysterious blasts on two consecutive days in the Kashmir valley have left the security agencies in a fix over the substances used by militants as explosive experts from the national capital have been rushed to the state to examine it.

Nine tourists -- seven from Gujarat on Sunday in a tourist bus and two from Bihar yesterday -- were killed in explosions inside the two vehicles.

Perceived as a campaign by militants to target the tourism industry in the state, the security agencies were examining all possibilities including questioning of inmates of the two tourist vehicles to ascertain whether someone had hurled a grenade or an explosive material.

The state forensic laboratory gave its initial report suggesting that no explosive material had been used in Sunday's blast but it was not enough to convince the security agencies as some of the passengers received splinter injuries.

Seeing the gravity of the situation, a forensic team from the Centre has been requested from New Delhi to examine the material gathered from the spot and analyse the explosives used, officials said.

Two children -- Mannu and Bunty -- died Monday near Awantipora in south Kashmir, in what was perceived as a road accident initially but after the bodies were found, it was found that the face of one of the child was completely blown off.

Militants are trying to target the tourism industry, the mainstay of the valley's economy, and the explosive material used this time has even left the police guessing.

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