Ultras thrash villagers mercilessly in Kishtwar

Jammu, May 21 (UNI) Militants of Hizb-ul-Mujaheedin (HM) today cordoned off village Kohat, around 30 km from Kishtwar district, in the wee hours and mercilessly thrashed local villagers, sources here said.

''Around half-a-dozen militants entered Kohat village near the Kuchhal area of tehsil Chatroo and cordoned off the area at around 0400 hrs,'' the sources told UNI, adding that they knocked the doors of the houses and around ten people of the village were brutally beaten up by the militants, who according to the victims were of HM outfit.

However, on receiving information, security agencies, including police and army, rushed to the spot and launched search operations even as the matter was being investigated, they said.

Meanwhile, the sources said the militants threatened the villagers with death if seen interacting or talking to the security forces or using moblile phones.

UNI XC/VBH AM KN1334