Six injured in IIOJK blasts before India opposition leader Gandhi arrives

• At least six people were injured in two blasts in Indian illegally-occupied Jammu.
• The arrival of Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was ahead.
• The blasts occurred in Jammu’s transport yard in the Narwal area.

At least six people were injured in two blasts in IIOJK on Saturday, ahead of the arrival of Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on a cross-country march, police said.

The blasts occurred in India illegally occupied Jammu’s transport yard in the Narwal area, according to regional police chief Mukesh Singh, as security has been increased ahead of Gandhi’s march, which is expected to arrive in the city on Monday.

Thousands have joined his march against “hate and division,” which aims to turn around the fortunes of the leftist Congress party after it was thrashed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2019 election.

Modi wishes to seize control of the Muslim-majority Himalayan region of IIOJK, which is hotly contested by Muslim-majority Pakistan. It has been ruled almost entirely by Muslim prime ministers.

Gandhi’s march, which has been better received by the public than expected, is expected to culminate in Srinagar later this month.

The first blast occurred around 0445 GMT, followed by another explosion, said another police official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

“The whole area has been cordoned off and a search operation is underway,” he said.

Jaswinder Singh, who saw the first blast, said it occurred in a vehicle that was sent to a workshop for repairs.

“There was a big bang and when I came out, I saw a blast had ripped apart a car. Another explosion occurred nearby fifteen minutes later. “The majority of those injured are car mechanics,” he said.

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