Police claims breakthrough
in Chamba massacre case
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 10 — The police has achieved a breakthrough in the massacre of 39 persons by Kashmiri militants in Satrundi, Kalaban and Sappa Choli areas of the Chamba district with the arrest of another Gujjar, Kasim Khan.

Highly-placed sources said that Kasim had been arrested by the Punjab police at Gurdaspur where he had escaped after the killing of three innocent "Gaddis" at Sappa Choli.

Sources said that during interrogation, Kasim told the police that he had hired some mercenaries to kill the three Gaddis whom he suspected to have informed the police about the ammunition which was concealed by terrorists in a fox hole in the area.

It is also learnt that Kasim, who was trading in sheep and goats, owed Rs 56,000 to the three Gaddis, Bhim Singh, Dewan Chand and Angtu, who were recently gunned down by terrorists.

The police has already arrested one Biloo Gujjar at Pathankot following a tip-off provided by Sharif Mohammad. Biloo Gujjar was also alleged to have connections with Kashmiri terrorists whom he had been providing shelter in the Chamba area. He has also been accused of having given information regarding the 35 labourers engaged in the construction of the Pangi-Kishtwar road who were killed at Kalaban by terrorists.

Sources said that terrorists had made inroads in to the Chamba area with the help of Gujjars who had been residing in the villages near the Jammu and Kashmir border.

Kasim and Biloo Gujjar are learnt to have given vital information regarding movement of the terrorists in the Chamba area.

The police is learnt to have seized a pistol from the possession of Kasim who had made a "dera" in Mukerian.

During interrogation, Kasim is learnt to have given information regarding the identity of the terrorists involved in the killing of the three "Gaddis".

These Gaddis were shot dead within six days of recovery of the hidden ammunition.

Sources said that interrogation of the arrested Gujjars has revealed that terrorists had, to a great extent, succeeded in making a communal divide in the remote areas of the Chamba district. Certain Gujjars have been providing shelter to terrorists.