Bullet-riddled and tortured bodies of three youths were found in an orchard near Pattan town of Baramulla district today, triggering protests in the area.
Two of the slain youths have been identified as militants of the Lashkar-e-Islam, a rebel group of the Hizbul Mujahideen. The bodies were found in an orchard at Shutz Dangerpora village near Pattan town, 30 km from Srinagar.
The youths are believed to have been tortured prior to their killing and bore torture marks. One of the youths had his nails pulled out and another had burn marks.
The police identified two of the three dead as Amir Reshi of Hardshiv village of Sopore. Amir had gone missing from his home in July this year and had reportedly joined militant ranks.
The second youth was identified as Ashiq Ahmad Wani, a resident of Lolipora village of Pattan. The police said he was a member of the Hizbul Mujahideen since June last year and had later joined its breakaway rebel faction, Lashkar-e-Islam. Ashiq was a law graduate.
The Lashkar-e-Islam was founded by the rebel militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen in May this year after differences erupted on operational grounds with the outfit’s Pakistan-based leadership. The rebel militant group is headed by the region’s most wanted militant commander, Abdul Qayoom Najar. The motive and identity of the killers remains a mystery.
The police said the bodies were spotted in the orchard by locals following which policemen reached the spot and sent the bodies for medico-legal formalities.
A police officer said the bodies had three bullet wounds each and evidence suggested they had been shot somewhere else and abandoned in the orchard.
Immediately after the incident, protests erupted in Pattan and nearby Palhalan town, disrupting traffic on the highway connecting Srinagar with north Kashmir districts. Protests also erupted in Sopore town.
Two of the slain youths have been identified as militants of the Lashkar-e-Islam, a rebel group of the Hizbul Mujahideen. The bodies were found in an orchard at Shutz Dangerpora village near Pattan town, 30 km from Srinagar.
The youths are believed to have been tortured prior to their killing and bore torture marks. One of the youths had his nails pulled out and another had burn marks.
The police identified two of the three dead as Amir Reshi of Hardshiv village of Sopore. Amir had gone missing from his home in July this year and had reportedly joined militant ranks.
The second youth was identified as Ashiq Ahmad Wani, a resident of Lolipora village of Pattan. The police said he was a member of the Hizbul Mujahideen since June last year and had later joined its breakaway rebel faction, Lashkar-e-Islam. Ashiq was a law graduate.
The Lashkar-e-Islam was founded by the rebel militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen in May this year after differences erupted on operational grounds with the outfit’s Pakistan-based leadership. The rebel militant group is headed by the region’s most wanted militant commander, Abdul Qayoom Najar. The motive and identity of the killers remains a mystery.
The police said the bodies were spotted in the orchard by locals following which policemen reached the spot and sent the bodies for medico-legal formalities.
A police officer said the bodies had three bullet wounds each and evidence suggested they had been shot somewhere else and abandoned in the orchard.
Immediately after the incident, protests erupted in Pattan and nearby Palhalan town, disrupting traffic on the highway connecting Srinagar with north Kashmir districts. Protests also erupted in Sopore town.
