AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

AI Index: ASA 20/013/2002 (Public)

News Service No: 121

15 July 2002

India: Civilians are not legitimate targets

Amnesty International today condemned the killing of 27 civilians and the wounding of at least 35 others in an attack on the shanty town of Qasim Nagar, on the outskirts of Jammu, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday 13th July.

"Civilians are not legitimate targets. All parties to the conflict in Kashmir must respect international humanitarian standards and spare civilian lives," the organization said.

Most of the victims were Hindu women and children. The identity of the attackers is unknown and no group has yet claimed responsiblity for the attack. The attackers reportedly wore robes of Hindu sadhus (holy men) and threw hand grenades at local residents before opening fire at them. The attackers escaped after firing into surrounding woods.

Amnesty International called for an immediate investigation into the killing; "There must be a serious attempt to find the perpetrators of these grave human rights abuses, and to bring them to justice in fair trials."

Public Document

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