'Islamic militants' kill 22 in Kashmir

Monday, 01, May 2006 01:46

A group thought to be Islamic militants have shot and killed at least 22 Hindus and injured ten others in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police have said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in which the victims were forced from their homes in Doda and beaten before being shot.

The incident is being described as the worst attack since a ceasefire was reached between Pakistan and India in 2003.

Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh condemned the killings, saying people in Jammu and Kashir had "rejected and rebuffed terrorists repeatedly".

The attack comes ahead of President Singh's meeting with moderate separatist Kashmiri leaders, which is scheduled to take place in Dehli this Wednesday.

Since 1989 around 60,000 people have been killed as a result of armed separatist insurgency which began in Kashmir in 1989.

The attack took place yesterday but details of what happened only came to light today.

A survivor of the violent attack said the militants came to their houses in the night, taking one man from each house.

After promising to release the men, the militants began beating them before shooting at them, killing 22.

The injured were taken to a hospital in Doda and villagers went to fetch help, but by the time troops arrived, the attackers had fled.

The dispute over Kashmir is ongoing. Pakistan claims India is delaying in trying to resolve the dispute over the land, which both countries claim belongs to them.