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Mukhtar Ahmed in Srinagar
At least six villagers were gunned down by unidentified militants in village Gahlot in the Panchari block of the Udhampur district late on Friday night, police sources in Jammu said.
The sources said those killed included four Hindu villagers, who were members of the village defence committee, and two Muslims.
"The militants in army uniform came to the village and took the four Hindu VDC members and two Muslim villagers along," said the sources.
"After reaching the outskirts of the village, militants opened fire on the villagers. The bodies of all the six persons were recovered on Saturday morning by the villagers," said the sources. High tension has gripped the village.
Sources said senior police and security force officers would be visiting the area on Saturday.
Police and security forces have already reached the area and a search operation has been mounted to nab those responsible for the killings.
No one has yet admitted responsibility for the killings.
The VDC members have been provided with weapons by the state government to guard their respective villages from militant attacks.
Meanwhile, the state police have handed over the house, which it had sealed in Safakadal locality by invoking the provisions of controversial POTO, back to its owner.
The state Cabinet, which had met in Jammu under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had expressed concern over the police action and had reprimanded the officers who had sealed the house.
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