September 22, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 14, 1423

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SRINAGAR, Sept 21: Mujahideen launched two failed attempts in less than 24 hours on the life of Occupied Kashmir’s only woman minister, police said on Saturday, as 13 people died in violence ahead of a second leg of voting.

Tourism Minister Sakina Itoo survived but a security officer and a Muslim woman died when the minister’s motorcade hit a landmine and rebels raked the cars with gunfire on Saturday morning, police said.

Freedom fighters had earlier shot dead two activists of India’s main leftwing party — the Communist Party of India — in the town of Kulgam, 60 kilometers south of Srinagar.

In other poll-related violence, freedom fighters killed a member of Kashmir’s ruling National Conference party overnight in the village of Dessu, in Anantnag district.

Three other people, including a school teacher, were killed elsewhere by freedom fighters, as the Indian army shot dead four Mujahideen in the southern Peer Panjal range on Saturday.

A policeman was killed and three more were injured on Saturday evening when two Kashmiris attacked the family quarters for police staff on the outskirts of Srinagar, officials said.—AFP