Terrorists kill 7 on first day of fasting in J&K

SRINAGAR: In a sudden escalation in violence coinciding with the start of holy month of Ramzan, militants killed seven persons including a woman constable and injured an equal number in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since Sunday night.

Insurgents lobbed a grenade towards a police gypsy near Naz Crossing killing a lady constable. Six others including three cops were injured in the first attack against women cops and the first attack on the first day of the month-long fasting. Reports said the attack took place moments after the afternoon prayers.

Ms Gulshan, the constable, died on the spot and her three colleagues and three civilians ,who were in the vehicle, were wounded. The vehicle carrying the cops of the city’s only female police station was on its way to Rambagh when it was attacked.

Two young men were killed by suspected militants in Zainapora and Chitragul while a couple were gunned down in a remote Udhampur village. One youth each in Marmat and Gandoh near Doda were killed on Sunday night. The killings took place amid expectations that a ceasefire may be in the offing in the wake of commitments by India and Pakistan that they would fight terror jointly.

Almost all political parties in the mainstream camp support the idea. Though the July, ’00, ceasefire by Hizbul Mujahideen could not alter the situation barring a day-long round between MHA and hooded Hizb leaders, the Vajpayee government did start non-initiation of combat operations (NICO) in November, ’00.

Though it was extended for a couple of months, it ended without making any change to the ground situation. However, the ceasefire on LoC announced by India and Pakistan have been holding since November, 2003.