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Suspected militants kill village headman in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Xinhua, July 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Suspected militants shot dead a village headman in Indian- controlled Kashmir, police said Thursday.

The killing took place Wednesday night in a village of Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A village headman Mohammad Yosuf Bhat was fired upon by unknown gunmen outside his house, when he was heading towards nearby mosque for night prayers at Wagum village," a police official posted in Pulwama told Xinhua. "Though his relatives immediately took him to Pulwama district hospital, but doctors there declared him dead."

Bhat, according to police, was farmer by profession and serving as village headman in the village.

Soon after the killing, contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were rushed to the village in a bid to nab assailants. However, so far no arrests were made.

Police said it has registered a case and started investigation into the killing.

Bhat's killing has created panic in the village as so far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of the attack.

Last month several civilians were killed by unidentified gunmen in the region's Sopore town, triggering widespread protests and condemnation.

While police said militants were behind the killings, separatist and militants groups put blame on "Indian agencies".

Meanwhile, a gunfight broke out in Tral area of Pulwama Wednesday night between militants and Indian military.

Reports said Indian military ambushed a group of militants, following which an exchange broke out.

However, there were no reports of damage from any side. Militants according to police took advantage of darkness and managed to escape.

A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi' s rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endi