Doda victims cremated amid tension

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, AUG. 5. The indefinite curfew, imposed in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, was today extended to Bhaderwah township as a precautionary measure. The bodies of all the 15 persons gunned down by militants in Ludheer village of Doda district on Friday night were cremated amid tension today.

Official sources in Doda told The Hindu over phone that curfew was imposed in Bhaderwah, ``to prevent any communal backlash.'' The situation in the district though tense was well under control, they added. The families of the victims initially refused to cremate the bodies demanding that the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, attend the funeral. However, the district administration prevailed and the cremation took place amid tension. Angry mourners raised slogans against the State Government, attacking it for failing to protect the citizens. Last night, some youth pelted stones on the shops of the majority community in Atholi. The Governor, Mr. G. C. Saxena, and the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, visited the affected area yesterday.

Meanwhile, the State police has decided to recruit 750 special police officers to strengthen security in vulnerable places. The Director-General of Police, Mr. A. K. Suri, said re- deployment of security forces, as ordered by the Governor, would be done in a phased manner to ensure the security of the people.

The State BJP president, Mr. Daya Kishan Kotwal, demanded the dismissal of the National Conference Government headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Holding it responsible for the killings, he said it had failed to protect the people and had no right to be in power.

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