Bullet-ridden bodie’s of Three youth found in Kashmir & Jammu

Bullet-ridden bodies of three youth were recovered on Monday from an apple orchard in Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said, claiming they were victims of rivalry between Hizbul Mujahideen and its breakaway group Lashkar-e-Islami. 

"One of the slain youth has been identified as Amir Muhammad Reshi of Harde Shiva (Sopore) who had been missing for some time and is believed to have joined the breakaway group of the Hizbul Mujahideen headed by Qayoom Najar," a police officer said. 

The bodies of the young men, aged between 17 and 21, were found in Shuru (Dangerpora) village in the district. 

"Investigations have been launched in the murder and more facts will be shared with the media as these are unearthed during the course of investigations." 

As police took custody of the bodies and shifted them for post-mortem and other legal formalities to the district hospital in Baramula town, agitated civilians blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway at Pattan town and Kreeri. 

Clashes also erupted between the protesters and the security forces in Sopore and Baramulla towns. 

The protesters demanded that those responsible for the murder be brought to justice. 

The ruling PDP condemned the killing and asked its rivals the National Conference not to play politics on the sensitive issue. 

Lashkar-e-Islami headed by Qayoom Najar had hit the headlines in April-May when they targeted cellphone services in north Kashmir. Three service providers and land owners of cellphone towers were killed in those attacks. 

The group also carried out grenade attacks in Sopore, Pattan and Srinagar to instil fear among cell phone operators and those associated with the trade.