Members of Muslim family shot dead by HM militant

Jammu, Nov 5 (UNI) A suspected Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant shot dead four member of a Muslim family, including three women, in Gool area of Udhampur district late last night, official sources said today.

The militant entered the house of Ahad Bhatt (55) at midnight and shot him dead. Later he killed Ahad's wife Fatima Begum (50) and his daughters Shahida (30) and Mugina (30) in the house, the sources added.

Police sources said the Bhatt family was on the hit-list of militants since long. They had shot dead Bhatt's younger daughter Shamima last month.

The militants charged Bhatt with being an informer for security forces and giving them information about dreaded militant and HM divisional commander Washim alias Billu Gujjar, who was gunned down by security forces in last September.

Ramban SP Basant Kumar Rath said a joint search operation of army and police has been launched to apprehend the militant.

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