Srinagar: In the first major strike
targeting civilians this year, Lashkar-e-Toiba militants have
shot dead two sisters after dragging them out of their house
in Sopore town of North Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Arifa and Akhtar, daughters of Ghulam Nabi Dar, were
gunned down by three militants, including a Pakistani, at
around 10 PM last night at Muslim Peer in Sopore town, 52 kms
from here, Superintendent of Police Sopore Altaf Ahmad told
PTI.
According to preliminary investigations, the three
Lashkar militants barged into the house and forcibly took the
girls, aged between 16 to 18 years, police said.
"The girls were later shot dead by the militants near
the Ziarat (shrine) Rahim Sahib. One of them was shot in the
left eye," Ahmad said, adding their bodies were found near
their house.
It could not be immediately ascertained why the
militants had targeted the sisters.
The police officer said the local militants involved
in the killing have been identified as Wasim Ganaie and
Muzaffar Naikoo. Both the ultras were carry a cash reward on
their heads.
This was the first incident of civilian killings by
militants in the Kashmir Valley this year.
Reacting to the incident, Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter: "If you can't condemn the killing of these two girls irrespective of your political beliefs and do so without qualifying it then shame on you."
"May all grant peace to the souls of Kulsuma and ..., their family the strength to deal with this tragedy and us strength to learn from it."
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 01, 2011, 11:48