Five legislators from Maharashtra, who escaped a terror attack in Kashmir on Tuesday, were in the Valley as part of a study organised by the state legislature. They were accompanied by their families. While none of the MLAs suffered injuries, 10 local residents were hurt.
Sudhir Parve (BJP), Tukaram Kate (Shiv Sena), Kishor Patil (Shiv Sena), Deepak Chavan (NCP) and Vikram Kale (NCP) are on the seven-day tour, with five senior legislature officials. The committee was in Jammu and Kashmir to study the Panchayati Raj institutions of a state affected by terror activities.
Being part of a legislative committee, the legislators were state guests and were accompanied by military escort vehicles. “Our cavalcade of more than 15 cars was on its way to Srinagar from Anantnag. A grenade was hurled at the military escort vehicle leading the cavalcade. The grenade missed the target and exploded a few ft away, puncturing car tyres and damaging windshields. We were in absolute shock. I was worried as my family was with me at the time of the incident,” said Parve, who heads the Panchayati Raj committee of the state legislature. “Initially, we didn’t understand what had happened. The military team rushed us out of the town quickly,” said Kale sharing the ordeal.
The committee will return on Saturday. Dr Anant Kalse, principal secretary, state legislature, said, “Such tours are organised every year to study the functioning of different institutions in various states and countries. The MLAs pay for their families’ expenses.”