DATE=8/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR (S&L)
NUMBER=2-265665
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: India says separatist militants have killed
four Hindu villagers, and wounded two others in Indian
Kashmir. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the
attack, which took place late Saturday night, is the
latest in a series of killings by suspected Muslim
guerrillas.
TEXT: The killings took place in the remote village
of Ind - about 180 kilometers north of the city of
Jammu. Police say several gunmen burst into the homes
of two Hindu families, and shot the sleeping
villagers.
It was the second attack on Hindu villagers in Kashmir
in 48 hours. On Friday, heavily armed men attacked
another small village and killed six people at point
blank range.
Police say more than 120 civilians, mostly Hindus,
have been killed in a series of attacks in Kashmir in
recent weeks.
Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority region. The
region has witnessed increasing violence since last
month, when a ceasefire was declared and later called
off by the largest militant group in the region.
(Rest opt for long)
Police have blamed Muslim separatist groups for the
spate of killings in Kashmir. But the militant groups
have denied killing any civilians, saying they attack
only military targets.
The Indian government has said it is willing to start
peace talks on Kashmir with militants who give up
violence. The Hizbul Mujahideen group that offered to
hold peace talks with New Delhi withdrew its ceasfire
when India rejected its demand to include Pakistan in
the talks.
More than 30,000 people have died in Kashmir since a
separatist insurgency flared more than a decade ago.
India and Pakistan have fought two wars over the
disputed region. (Signed)
NEB/AP/KL
20-Aug-2000 10:44 AM EDT (20-Aug-2000 1444 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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