Police in Indian Kashmir say suspected Islamic militants have cut the noses of five Kashmiri Muslim villagers, reportedly accusing them of being police informants.
The victims survived the attack.
Police say seven armed militants entered Banihati village northwest of Jammu city, pulled four men and one woman from their homes and mutilated them in front of other villagers.
Police say they suspect the gunmen were members of one of the Islamic militant groups fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan.
Police told the Associated Press the gunmen warned villagers against helping authorities and then fled into nearby mountains . The police spoke on condition of anonymity, and the report could not be independently verified.
(For details please click on 1600UTC)