This Article is From Jul 23, 2009

Toddler, father killed by militants in Shopian

Toddler, father killed by militants in Shopian
Srinagar:

On Wednesday night in Shopian in Kashmir, militants walked into a home and shot a three-year- old child and murdered his father too.

Most of us remember the huge protests recently in Shopian, when the people were furious about the murder of two women apparently by the armed forces.

Now, a three-year-old kid was killed by militants but there is not a single protest, the streets were empty and life in Shopian is business as usual.

The toddler was killed when militants attacked his father Mohammad Aslam.

Last time Mohammad Aslam lost his mother, but survived and was back home after spending weeks in hospital.

Wednesday night militants targeted him again, this time killing him and his innocent three-year-old.

"They came at eight pm and broke the door. They told me to take away the child as we have to kill your husband. And then they fired, killing the child and my husband," said Skina, Muhammad Aslam's wife.

"He was admitted in the hospital and returned home only last week, they came and killed him and his son," said Parveena, neighbor.

Some say Mohammad Aslam was killed because he was an informer for the security forces - but so far there's no confirmation.

"We have registered a case. This is one more killing in the area, we had meeting of the security agencies there and we are trying to beef up security in the area," said Shahid Mehraj, SP Shopian.

The security in the area has been tightened and operation launched to catch the guilty but it's of little consolation to a family for whom the nightmare refuses to end.

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