DODA/POONCH, JULY 20: Nineteen persons, including six children, were massacred and six others injured, as heavily armed militants struck again in Doda and Poonch districts of Jammu region late last night.While 15 members of a family including six members of the Village Defence Committee (VDC), three women and six children were gunned down and five others injured at village Lihota near Thathri (Doda), four GREF officials were killed and one injured at village Sheindara near Kalai bridge in Mandi area of Poonch district. Four of the VDC members were brothers.However, in less than 12 hours of the massacre of GREF officials, the state police along with Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Army troops launched combing operations and gunned down all the five killers of GREF personnel in two separate encounters in Mandi area. Though the identity of the slain militants was yet to be identified, they were reported to be foreigners owing allegiance to Zubair group of Hizbul Mujahideen (Pir Panjal Regiment).Though nomilitant outfit has claimed responsibility for the Doda massacre, the killers are believed to be foreign mercenaries owing allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Ansar and Lashkar-e-Toiba.Giving details about the massacre in Doda district, official sources said a group of heavily armed militants swooped at village Lihota, about ten kms from Thathri, and encircled all the five houses there. They simultaneously entered the houses and opened fire, killing 15 people and injuring five others.The militants had also earlier attacked the victims but were forced to flee every time in view of retaliatory fire by the VDC members and troops posted in the area. However, after the troops were pulled out of the area in view of Kargil conflict, the militant stepped up their activities.Last night, about 40-50 masked militants encircled the village at about 8.30 pm, when some of the VDC members were on night patrolling and others taking meal along with their families. The VDC members opened fire and did not allowmilitants enter their hamlet until they fell short of ammunition.The exchange of fire continued till wee hours of the morning, he said and added that after killing the VDC members, the militants broke into their houses and resorted to indiscriminate firing at the inmates including women and children. The militants left the village around 6 am.The police and the Army troops reached the site at about 10 am. It was only in the afternoon that the injured were airlifted to the Government Medical College for treatment from the encounter site, Panna Lal said.About the massacre in Poonch district, sources said that about a dozen militants entered into the GREF camp at Sheindara and separated the victims from local labourers before resorting to firing.After the massacre, the militants reportedly divided themselves in two groups and fled from the spot. However, the police along with RR and Army troops swung into action immediately after receiving information about the killing and launched combingoperation.At Keru, when police along with Army were conducting house to house searches, the militants suddenly opened fire. The former retaliated, killing two militants. Huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including two AK 47 rifles, were recovered from the slain militants.In another combing operation at Chakrara, the police along with RR men noticed some people moving under suspicious circumstances. On being challenged, the latter opened fire. The combing parties retaliated and killed three militants.
