Police perform last rites of 8 Nepalis killed in Kashmir BY SURENDRA PHUYAL NEW DELHI, June 13 - In yet another brutal attack on soft human targets, rebel militants in the strife-torn Indian state of Kashmir have killed nine innocent laborers, eight of them Nepali nationals, hours after kidnapping them from a remote construction site, officials confirmed Tuesday. The militants, belonging to Hizbul-Mujahideen group, fired upon the laborers shortly after they kidnapped them from a building construction site in remote Trenj village soon after they broke for lunch Monday afternoon, according to Anantpur-based DIG Himmat Kumar Lohia. Trenj village is located 120 kilometers southwest of Srinagar, the state capital of Kashmir. And Hizbul-Mujahideen is among the most active militant groups active in the region. They are fighting for a separate and independent Kashmir for the past few decades. Those killed have been identified as Delsha Rishidev, Dallu (one name), Chhota Dallu, Kalu Rishidev, Laxmi Singh, Rishi Tajpuri, all of them of Govindapuri village, Morang; and Chinko Rishidev, of Badanga, Morang; Dina Mandal, of Arkudali, Morang. Their Bihari friend has been identified as Dayanand Rishidev, of Palasmani Kurmiya, Bihar. “All of them were in their late twenties or early thirties, and they arrived in Kashmir in April for seasonal job,” DIG Lohia said from Anantnag. All of them died of lethal bullet injuries right on the spot which a few hundred meters away from the site, he added. Since their bodies were in “bad shape and were decomposing”, he said, “We performed their last rites today afternoon according to Hindu rituals [near the nearest police station in Yaripuri].” Data showing exactly how many Nepali workers are working in the strife-ridden Jammu and Kashmir exist nowhere. But, like many other Indian states, Kashmir is home to hundreds of Nepali migrant workers, who typically migrate for seasonal job and decent income. Several rights groups in India have condemned the brutal slaying of the innocent laborers. http://kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=76505