15 gunned down in Doda

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JULY 22. Barely 24 hours after the killing of 13 persons near the famous Amarnath shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, a group of unidentified militants gunned down 15 persons, including three children and two women, in a remote village of Doda district last night. In another incident in Kishtwar tehsil of the same district, five members of a village defence committee (VDC) were abducted and feared killed.

Reports revealed that 15 people from the minority community were gunned down by militants in Cheergi village of Kishtwar tehsil. Confirming the incident, the DGP, Mr. A.K. Suri, said, ``Further details are awaited''. Independent sources in Kishtwar told The Hindu over phone that a group of around 15 heavily-armed persons descended on Cheergi hamlet in the Tagot forest area of Madwa- Dachan around 11.45 p.m. on Saturday. After asking the villagers to come out of their houses, the gunmen fired indiscriminately. According to the only survivor, Deepu, 15 persons died on the spot. Deepu, who was injured, later informed the other residents and began a long trek to Kishtwar on foot.

After being admitted to hospital in Kishtwar, Deepu informed the police about the incident. Cheergi has only 12 houses, all belonging to Hindus, and is around 45 km. from Dool. The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained, but sources said three children and two women were among the dead.

A police party has left for Cheergi and is expected there by tomorrow morning. Details are expected only after the team reaches the village.

In another incident, five members of a VDC, mostly comprising Hindus, were abducted by some militants in Udharna village of Kishtwar tehsil on Saturday. Locals said the five were taken at gunpoint to an unknown destination; police sources said the militants could have taken the five to the nearby woods and killed them. ``But until we recover the bodies it cannot be confirmed,'' a police source said.

The Governor, Mr. G.C. Saxena, and the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, expressed shock and said the incidents spoke volumes about the militants' frustration.

Hurriyat sees link

PTI reports:

Meanwhile, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has linked Friday night's attack on Amarnath pilgrims in south Kashmir to the ``unresolved Kashmir issue''.

``The need of the hour is to accept political realities and find an ever-lasting and fair solution to the Kashmir issue as per political aspirations of the Kashmiris,'' a Hurriyat spokesman said today, reacting to the killing of 13 persons, including six Amarnath pilgrims, at Sheshnag.

The incident was ``regrettable and mysterious'' and the Hurriyat had always condemned the killing of innocent persons, he said. ``Till we don't think over it, the innocent people whosoever they are... will continue to be victims.''

Al-Umer's claim

In another development, the pro-Pakistan Al-Umer mujahideen claimed responsibility for the grenade attack on the house of the State Works Minister, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, here last night. ``Our activists were behind the grenade attack on the house of Sagar,'' a spokesman of the outfit told news organisations here over phone.

Militants lobbed a grenade at Mr. Sagar's house in Shah Mohalla around 9.20 p.m. yesterday. There was no report of any casualty.

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