The toll in the militant attack on a marriage party has risen to eight with one person succumbing to injuries in the incident at Drabli village in Punchairi in Udhampur district on Sunday, official sources said on Monday. A group of militants ambushed members of the marriage party at Tringle area in Punchairi, and killed seven Hindus and injured four, one of them critically, who later died, they said.
Sunday’s attack is the second since Friday when a group of militants had massacred seven people, including four Village Defence Committee (VDC) members in Gaylot on Punchairi hills, about 8-10 km from Drabli.
The militants who were in combat dress escaped and no outfit has so far claimed responsibility. Two persons who survived the attack on Sunday, had informed the police about the incident. A police party headed by a deputy superintendent, besides two columns of army were sent for a combing operation in the Hindu-dominated Punchairi area, they said.
Udhampur district police chief Deepak Kumar said the site is 6-7 km traverse from the nearest motorable road.
Bureau Report