December 24, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 8, 1422

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MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 23: Kashmir’s largest and indigenous freedom fighters’ group, Hizbul Mujahideen, said on Sunday that no Mujahideen group was involved in the ruthless killings of five women from minority communities in the disputed valley and blamed India for the massacre.

“India has been killing innocent people from all religions, casts and creeds in the occupied territory for long in its abortive attempts to suppress the will of the freedom-seeking Kashmiris and bring a bad name to our noble cause”, Hizb’s supreme commander Syed Salahuddin said and added that New Delhi could not achieve its ulterior motives through such cowardice means and tactics.

“The people of Kashmir are well aware that Indian agencies have been carrying out such ghastly acts in the past as well to give a communal colour to our noble struggle, and this practice of theirs has been exposed by independent organizations many a time”, said Salahuddin, who also heads the Muttahida Jihad Council, an alliance of the Mujahideen groups battling Indian occupation in Kashmir.

He recalled that India had also blamed the Mujahideen for the massacre of 36 Sikhs in the Chatisingpura village on the eve of then US president Bill Clinton’s visit to New Delhi, but later an investigation commission, headed by a retired Indian judge, had found the Indian army involved in the gory incident.

“I, on behalf of all Mujahideen groups, declare that every unarmed Kashmiri, belonging to any race or religion, is avenged for us and we can never think of inflicting slight harm on any civilian.

“I vehemently condemn these killings and express heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families.”

Salahuddin said the massacre of women had been carried out at a time when India had already staged the drama of the attack on its parliament building in pursuance of its long-cherished desire to get the Kashmiri Mujahideen branded as terrorists.

“Given this situation, it does not need much wisdom to know that who wants to get benefit from such cruel acts on this particular occasion”, he said and urged the United Nations and international human rights groups to conduct a probe into the killings so that the “ugly face of India could once again be exposed.”

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has already condemned the killings of non-Muslims, and has asked the human rights groups to ponder over why this all is happening in Kashmir.