Srinagar, Aug 23: Unidentified gunmen which the police claimed to be militants on Monday gunned down three persons, including mother-daughter duo, in two separate incidents in south Kashmir.
A police spokesman said the gunmen barged into the house of Muhammad Hussain Gorsi at Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district last night and shot dead his wife Shakeela, 40, and his daughter Zarina, 19. The gunmen managed to escape after the attack.
He said in yet another incident the gunmen barged into the house of Ghulam Nabi Wani at Chakoora Pulwama and shot dead his son-in law Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, an employee of the Social Welfare department.
However, locals refuted police claim about militants carrying out these killings. “No militancy related incident has been reported in D H Pora during past many years. All of us know that no militant has been active in our area for a long time,” a caller from D H Pora wishing anonymity told Greater Kashmir.
Residents of Chakura shared similar views. “Police claim about militants killing Bhat seems to be untrue. We haven’t seen any militant in the area for a long time. They appearing suddenly and shooting a civilian has surprised us. If government is sincere then it should order a probe to ascertain who is behind these killings,” a caller from Chakura Pulwama said.
A senior separatist leader said that government wants to divert the attention from the real issue. “It seems pro-government gunmen are being roped in to create confusion,” he added.

MLA SOPUR’S RESIDENCE ATTACKED: POLICE
Police on Monday claimed that it foiled yet another militant attack on MLA Sopur’s house in north Kashmir.
“Militants fired at the residence of MLA Sopur and National Conference leader Muhammad Ashraf last night. The residential guard of the MLA retaliated the fire triggering a brief gunfight. However, it ended without any damage. Militants fled away after the attack,” a police officer said.
Pertinently, this is the second attack on MLA Sopur’s house within the last fortnight. In the last attack earlier this month a Personal Security Officer of the MLA was killed while two policemen had sustained injuries.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST