DATE=8/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA - KASHMIR (S-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265610
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: India says separatist militants have killed
six Hindu civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir.
V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports the largest
separatist militant group operating in Kashmir denies
it is behind the killings.
TEXT: The small village of Kotdhara, about 175
kilometers northwest of the city of Jammu, is where
the killings took place. Villagers say
heavily armed men resembling separatist militants
pulled people out of the their homes late Thursday and
shot them at point-blank range. The killers were
forced to flee after other villagers responded by
firing back.
Indian authorities are blaming separatist militants
for the killings - but in an unusual move a
representative of the largest such group
operating in Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahadeen denied
involvement on Friday. A spokesman for Hizbul
Mujahadeen blames representatives of Indian
security forces for the attack -- saying his group
only targets Indian security forces and military
targets.
The attack is just the latest in a spiral of
increasing violence in Kashmir. Nearly 200 people
have been killed in the past two weeks --
after a cease-fire was declared -- and then later
called off by Hizbul Mujahadeen. (Signed)
neb/jlt/plm
TEXT:
NEB/WTW/
18-Aug-2000 05:52 AM EDT (18-Aug-2000 0952 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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