September 6, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani27,1423

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SRINAGAR, Sept 5: Gunmen killed two more pro-India political activists in occupied Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

Three civilians and a freedom fighter were killed elsewhere in the held state.

Three gunmen knocked at the residence of Najeeb Abbas Khan, a candidate of the pro-India People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the prestigious Amira Kadal constituency in Srinagar, police said.

When Abbas Khan’s chief election adviser, Mohammed Amin Shah, came to the door, he was shot several times by the gunmen, killing him on the spot, witnesses said.

The vice chairwoman of the PDP, Mehbooba Mufti, said the gunmen had wanted to kill Abbas.

But while police alleged the killing was carried out by freedom fighters, Mufti said the attack was the handiwork of former militants who work with the Indian police.

“This is being done by the (held state’s) ruling party to terrorize us,” she said, calling for the disarming of pro-India militants.

“I have sent a fax in this regard to the Election Commission of India.”

Mustafa Lone, an activist of the ruling National Conference party, was shot dead on Wednesday night in the village of Kashibal, Baramulla district.

Another Muslim believed to be an activist of the ruling National Conference party, Nazir Ahmed, was abducted on Wednesday night, police said.

CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE: Three civilians were killed on Wednesday night when they were caught in a crossfire between Indian troops and Mujahideen near Rajouri.—AFP