Author:
Publication: The Times of India
(Web edition)
Date: February 17, 2001
The Hizbul Mujahideen has threatened
Saturday to target families of Indian troops in retaliation for the deaths
of civilians.
"We may take the unpleasant step
of targeting the families of Indian troopers if they do not stop killing
civilians in our homeland," Hizb leader Syed Salahuddin said.
He was reacting to the shooting
of four people by security forces at Higam north of Srinagar on Thursday
during a protest.
Another person died in Srinagar
on Friday when police opened fire on hundreds of stone-throwing demonstrators.
"If killings continue, we may be
compelled to target families of Indian troops so that they understand the
anguish and pain of relatives of civilians slain by them," the Hizb leader
said.
An estimated 34,000 people have
died in Kashmir since separatist groups launched an anti-Indian rebellion
12 years ago. (AFP)
