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Militants gun down 8 in J & K

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Eight members of a family were gunned down by militants at village Krishipora Nagri in the northern border district of Kupwara early this morning, the police said.

Three others who were wounded in the attack on the house of a suspected security forces-informer have been rushed to Srinagar for treatment and their condition is stated to be critical.

Police sources in Srinagar said that a group of heavily armed militants this morning forced their entry into the house of Abdul Ahmad Ganaei and sprayed bullets on the inmates killing the house owner and seven others on the spot. Those killed have been identified as Abdul Ahmad Ganaei, his wife Saida, Dolly, Jehangir, Khaliq Ganaei, Maqbool Ganaei, Zeba and Isfaq Ganiaei. Those injured in the attack were identified by police sources as Shahida, Mohammad Yassin and Shamima.

Sources said the militants have since fled from the area. Security forces and police reinforcements rushed to Nagri village which has been cordoned off. Searches are continuing.

The incident has triggered fear among the residents.

No one has yet owned up responsibility for the killings which follow the recent claims by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that normalcy has been restored in the state. Police officials admit that the killings were a setback to their efforts.

Meanwhile in a fierce gun battle with militants at village Taki-wagam in Pulwama district, three separatists were killed and a few houses were gutted. In the two-hour long fighting Major Vinay Chowdhary was also killed. During the searches, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site.

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