Author: Indo-Asian News Service
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: March 28, 2003
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_223351,000900010002.htm
Terrorists killed three people and
maimed six in Jammu and Kashmir Friday for allegedly assisting the security
forces, polices said.
Police said terrorists descended
on Banihad village, 180 km north of this winter capital and slit the throats
of three women after charging them with being informers for the security
forces.
They then rounded up six people,
including a young boy, and slashed their noses, saying they too had cooperated
with the security forces.
This is the first time terrorists
in Kashmir have resorted to such an act.
Police suspect the perpetrators
to be Al-Badr cadres.
In the Kashmir countryside, the
nose is considered a badge of honour and the maiming has left the victims
with a social stigma, apart from having to bear the pain of the gruesome
act.
An army picket in the area had been
withdrawn two weeks ago and the terrorists walked in to the village with
impunity.
