Four killed in Kashmir

SUSPECTED Islamic militants killed four people in their sleep in an upsurge of violence that also claimed three other lives in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The insurgents entered the house of a Muslim family overnight and shot at those sleeping, police said.

Abdul Rahim’s son, his wife and his 18-month-old grandson were killed instantly. The fourth person killed was a house guest.

Police believe the deaths were revenge killings, as two of Rahim’s sons are policemen. A third son belongs to a rival militant group.

Paramilitary forces yesterday killed a rebel who was holed up in a mosque for 22 hours in Bogund.

Soldiers killed another rebel on during a gun battle that preceded the mosque stand-off, 50 miles south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu-Kashmir. A soldier was also killed in the fire fight.