Kashmir: 2 civilians shot dead at homes

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

Two civilians were shot dead in targeted attacks in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday night, a police officer said.

In both cases, the unknown attackers broke into the houses of the victims and shot them multiple times, the officer said.

He identified the victims as Ghulam Hassan Wagay, a retired forest employee, and Sirajuddin, both residents of the southern Kulgam district.

Four civilians have now been killed in targeted attacks over the past week in the same district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

On March 21, unknown gunmen, who police suspect were militants, shot and critically injured 25-year-old Waseem Ahmad in Turigam village in Kulgam.

He died at a hospital in the capital Srinagar this past Tuesday.

Another civilian Merajuddin Bhat was shot and killed by unidentified attackers in Redwani village in Kulgam on March 28.

Kulgam is one of the four southern districts of Indian-administered Kashmir -- Shopian, Pulwama, and Anantnag being the other three -- where a popular resurgent militancy has been active for the past seven years.

These districts account for most casualties of militants, government forces, and civilians in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts, and claimed by both in full. A small sliver is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965, and 1971 -- including two over the disputed territory.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence or unification with Pakistan.

According to several human rights groups, thousands of people have been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.