NEW YORK, July 16: Human Rights Watch on Monday condemned the attack on Saturday by gunmen on a shantytown in Jammu, the winter capital of the Indian-held Kashmir.

Twenty-seven civilians were killed and about 30 were injured in the attack.

“All parties to the conflict have an obligation to protect civilian lives,” said Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington director for Asia at Human Rights Watch.

“Mass, targeted attacks on civilians are intolerable and must be stopped.”

Human Rights Watch urged Indian authorities to undertake a prompt and thorough investigation and that persons implicated in the attack be prosecuted with all due process protections.