Militants strike again, kill 14 including 9 Biharis in J and K

Srinagar, June 12 (UNI) Militants struck in a big way in Jammu and Kashmir today, killing 14 people, including nine Bihari labourers and two state police constables, and injuring 29 others, mostly Vaishnodevi pilgrims.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for South Kashmir Hemant Kumar Lohia told UNI that a group of gunmen attacked Bihari labourers working in brick klin at village Badroo Kulgam, about 70 km from here at 1630 hrs.

He said six labourers were killed on the spot and seven others were wounded. While two of the injured died on the way to hospital one more succumbed to injuries at the Bone and Joints Hospital here, the DIG said, adding the injured were rushed to Srinagar hospital.

He said a police patrol party immediately cordoned off the area where the militants are reportedly still holed up.

Mr Lohia said reinforcements were immediately rushed to the area from nearby camps and a massive search operation has been launched to nab the militants.

This was the fourth incident involving outside labourers in the Jammu and Kashmir.

On August 8, 1998, 35 labourers were killed in Kalaban on Jammu-Himachal Pradesh border. Fifteen labourers were killed in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on June 30, 1999.

As many as 27 labourers were gunned down in Qazigund and Achabal areas of Anantnag district of Kashmir on August 1-2, 2000.

More than two lakh Bihari workers and labourers work in different parts of the Kashmir valley.

Meanwhile, state secretary of the Communist Party of India (M) Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has strongly condemned the attack on the Bihari labourers.

He said the act was inhuman and against the teachings of Islam.

''The killers belong to no religion or region,'' Mr Tarigami said and demanded an end to bloodshed.

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