20 of militant's family shot
9 killed in Udhampur villages
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 4 — At least 20 persons were killed following a feud between two militant outfits — Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen — at Sailan village near Bafliaz, 200 km west of Jammu, in Poonch district last night.

Nine members of a community were killed in two incidents in Udhampur today.

Reports reaching here said a militant identified as Imtiyaz killed special police officer Zakir, a former militant. This enraged activists of a rival outfit. Imtiyaz is said to belong to Hizbul Mujahideen. Activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba swooped on Sailan village and opened indiscriminate fire on the family members of Imtiyaz. Three families, all relatives of Imtiyaz, were killed and six critically wounded.

Additional security forces have been rushed to the area and a manhunt has been launched against the killers. The village has been cordoned amid wailing by members of both communities over the massacre of 20 persons, including children and women.

Zakir, according to reports, was dragged out of a bus and shot dead by Imtiyaz wanted in connection with several killings in the Poonch-Rajouri area.

In a swift retaliatory action, supporters of Zakir, armed with automatic weapons, stormed the houses of Imtiyaz’s sons — Hassan Mohammad, Ahmad Din and Lassa Sheikh — and fired indiscriminately, killing 11 girls, three minor boys, two women and three men.

The incident has confirmed reports that militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkatul Ansar, which are dominated by foreign mercenaries, and Hizbul Mujahideen have established bases in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. These militants have been infiltrating into the Poonch and Rajouri areas from across the border in small numbers. Several of them are being sent to Udhampur and Doda districts to extend the bases of insurgents.

During the past six months, activists of different militant outfits have fought pitched battles with the troops and other security agencies and killed more than 20 security personnel. That these mercenaries have been receiving support from local militants is indicated from yesterday’s incident as Zakir, the special police officer, is said to be a relative of top Lashkar-e-Toiba activists. Had it not been the case, the rival militants would have had no reason to kill the family members of Imtiyaz who had gunned down the SPO.

Nine members of the minority community were killed by militants in two separate incidents near Mohare in the upper reaches of Udhampur and in a village near Ramban in Doda district. Eight houses were set ablaze at a place 7 km from Mohare in Udhampur.

Reports reaching here said militants equipped with automatic rifles swooped on the two villages and opened indiscriminate fire, killing nine persons, six near Mohare and three at Jarot village in Ramba area. After eliminating members of one community, they doused eight houses with kerosene and set these on fire.

A report from Srinagar said at least 24 persons, including 22 women, were injured in a grenade explosion at Clock Tower in Lal Chowk area this morning. One of them was seriously injured.

Eyewitnesses said the grenade was aimed at a security vehicle but it exploded on the road at about 11.25 a.m. The seriously injured, Suraya of Nowhatta locality in the capital city, has been admitted to hospital.

The injured pilgrims were identified as Pawan Kumar, Atma Ram, Rakesh (all from Chandigarh), Hemant Sai Ganpath (Maharashtra), Dooni Chand (Himachal Pradesh), Ram Pradesh (Bihar) and Ram Gopal (Rai Bareily-UP).

The security forces have sealed the area and a hunt is on to nab the militants.

Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and another injured as artillery and mortar shelling from across the border by Pakistani troops continued in the Northern Sector Keran, Karnah, Machhil, Uri, Kamalkote, Gorkote, Buchgund, Namla, Deki Sultan, Dever and Para Peela in the sector bore the brunt of the attack.

Official sources said Sattar Ali was killed and Fakir Ali critically wounded when a shell fired by Pakistani troops from across the border exploded at Kamalkote late last night. The injured was hospitalised.

The toll in Pak shelling in Kupwara and Baramulla sectors has risen to 36 during the past week

Chamba killers spotted in Pangi valley

SHIMLA, Aug 4 (UNI) — A group of militants who killed 35 labourers at Kalaban and Shatrundi hamlets in Chamba district yesterday were reported to have been spotted today by villagers in Pangi valley in the district, police sources said.

The sources said the militants, some of them sporting a beard, were seen proceeding towards Chalkot jungle in the valley apparently to cross over to Kishtwar area of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir police had been informed about the militants' movements in the Pangi valley, the sources said. The deployment of forces had been stepped up in the Kishtwar area by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

Meanwhile, a central team comprising Special Secretary (Home) held a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, state Director-General of Police B.S. Thakur and other officers.

The Chief Minister, who visited the massacre site yesterday, apprised the team of the latest situation and demanded more forces for the area.