Police in Indian Kashmir say suspected Islamic militants have raided a village and killed 22 Hindus.
At least five more Hindus were wounded in the attack Sunday night on the village in the Indian-controlled district of Doda. Most of the victims were shepherds.
Earlier in the day, suspected Muslim separatists abducted at least nine Hindu civilians in Udhampur district, northeast of the winter capital, Jammu. The bodies of four have been found, while the fate of the other people is unknown. Authorities say the Hindus were grazing their cattle when they were ambushed.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which come just days ahead of planned talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Kashmiri separatist leaders in New Delhi.
Muslim separatists have been fighting for Kashmir's independence or its merger with neighboring Pakistan since 1989. The violence has taken tens of thousands of lives.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
