Nine Bihari labourers killed, four wounded in Anantnag

Srinagar, June 12 (UNI) At least nine Bihari labourers were killed and four wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire at Badroo village in Anantnag this afternoon, a senior police officer said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for South Kashmir Hemant Kumar Lohia told UNI a group of gunmen attacked Bihari labourers working in a 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 wounded. While two of the injured died on the way to hospital, one succumbed to injuries at Bone and Joints Hospital here, the DIG said, adding the wounded were rushed to hospitals here.

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

The DIG said reinforcements were immediately rushed to the area from nearby camps and a massive search operation has been launched to nab the ultras.

This was the fourth incident involving outside labourers in the state.

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 labourers work in different parts of the Kashmir valley.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Governor S K Sinha (Retd) and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have strongly condemmed the killing of innocent labourers and an attack on pilgrims at Jammu bus stand today.

CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami termed the act ''inhuman'', ''barbarian'' 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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