'Militants fired after waking up us from sleep'

jammu: three ultras fired indiscriminately after waking up 23 people who were sleeping in temporary huts at ladder village in doda district around midnight on friday. killing 13 of them, survivors said. "it was around midnight that i got up from sleep after hearing somebody knocking at the door. i first lit the kerosene lamp and then moved to find who wanted our help at this hour," chaplot singh (21) of kundal village said."i was surprised to find three armed men at the door. one of them asked me not to panic and reply his queries. he asked my name and those of others sleeping in the shelter. after satisfying himself that there was no muslim inside the hut, he sought instruction over wireless and after receiving it, all the three opened indiscriminate fire," he said. singh along with des raj (40) was flown here from atholi for treatment after they received bullet injuries in the cold blooded attack. singh, who was hit by three bullets, fell down as wails and cries echoed all around. "fortunately, two persons were on guard duty outside their cattle shed and escaped the militant attack. they rushed to atholi, 9 km away, and informed the authorities. "three of us, who sustained injuries, were writhing in pain for four hours before rescuers reached from the village and took us to atholi health centre," he said. des raj said he fell unconscious after receiving bullets in his legs and right shoulder. "i must have been bleeding and it is only due to the grace of god that i survived." both said they could not recognise the urdu speaking militants as it was dark.