Father-son killed in Rajouri

Excelsior Special Correspondent

RAJOURI, Aug 4: Militants last night gunned down a civilian and beheaded his son at Darman in Koteranka area of Budhal, just 500 meters away from a battalion headquarters of the security forces. The killings sparked off strong protests in Koteranka with people disrupting traffic on Budhal-Rajouri road for more than six hours.

Official sources said three militants came to the house of Anwar Hussain, 50, son of Ilam Din at Darman late last night and tried to slit his throat. Hussain, who had earlier also survived two attempts by the militants to kill him, escaped from clutches of the militants.

However, one of the militants fired a burst on him from an AK rifle killing him on spot. The militants then brought out Hussain’s 22 year old son Mohd Ashraf and took him to main road in Darman. The boy kept on crying loudly for five minutes seeking help but the security personnel, deployed at a battalion headquarters just 500 meters from the encounter site, didn’t turn up.

Throat of the boy was slit by the militants, the sources said, adding the militants escaped after about 20 minutes from the village.

In the morning, a large number of villagers gathered at the site of killing, took the bodies to Darman road and blocked traffic on Rajouri-Budhal road in protest against the security forces alleged "inaction" in saving the life of civilians, who were killed close to their camp.

People said cries of Mohd Ashraf were heard in far off areas while security forces were present very close to the site of killings. Shouting slogans against the security forces, the protesters also subjected about half a dozen vehicles including a security forces truck, to stone pelting.

They were demanding action against the security personnel, who refused to help the civilian.

In the morning, Tehsildar Koteranka Tilak Raj Sharma and DySP (DAR) Rajouri Tahir Sajjad Bhat rushed to the spot and talked to the people. Following an assurance by the authorities, the protesters lifted their dharna after about six hours.

Bodies of the father-son were buried in the village this evening.

Sources said the militants had earlier made two attempts to kill Anwar Hussain in his house at Dara Bagla. Both the time, he had managed to escape. After this, he had shifted along with his family to Darman and was putting up close to the security forces camp to escape from the militants.

According to sources, Anwar’s uncle Nazir Ahmed was killed by the militants in 1997 while his brother Talib Hussain was shot dead in 2000. His cousin Sharief and nephew Zunaid were killed last year at Dara Bagla.

The militants had charged the family with being responsible for the killing of three militants near their house.

Meanwhile, a police party was fired upon by the militants at Thera Topa in Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district last night. Firing was replied by the cops.

In the exchange of firing, SPO Sohan Lal was injured. He has been admitted in the sub district hospital in Mendhar.

Security forces busted a hideout of the militants at Sanhat, Surankote and recovered one AK magazine, six rounds and one UBGL.

Our Udhampur correspondent adds: Two houses belonging to Mohd Ramzan son of Munir War R/o Bargi, Gandoh in Doda district and Ghulam Ali son of Dina Gujjar R/o Kote Bahra, Gool in Udhampur district were set ablaze by the militants last night.