Jammu, August 13
Five members of a family were killed by terrorists in Shehjru village in Mahore block of the Udhampur district today. Reports said nine other members of the family were injured due to indiscriminate firing by the militants who attacked the house of Sawan Mal, a member of the village defence committee (VDC).

Four of the critically injured persons, including three minor girls, have been flown here by the IAF for treatment in the Medical College Hospital.

Those killed have been identified as Narinder Singh (19), Subzi Ram (30) Charan Singh (18), Ishwar Dass (40) and Balwant Singh (15).

Reports said the terrorists first attacked the VDC member’s house with grenades and then targeted the family members. While Sawan Mal survived the attack, his wife and daughter were killed.

Monika (7), Kanta (4) and Anju (2), were seriously injured.

In another incident, terrorists killed a VDC member, Qasim, in Rehana village of Ramban in Doda district. He was kidnapped from his house and later shot.

Meanwhile, Mr Aijaz Ahmad, minister of state, has condemned the killing of five persons.

Mr Randhir Singh, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), while condemning the killings, has demanded that a relief of Rs 5 lakh should be paid for each of the killed.