Kashmir Militants Free Israeli Seized in Raid Last Week
SRINAGAR, India — Muslim militants on Wednesday freed an Israeli tourist they held hostage for nearly a week in battle-torn Kashmir.
Yair Yitzhaki was handed over to three journalists at an undisclosed location in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, a spokesman for the militants said.
An Israeli official in New Delhi confirmed Yitzhaki was released and is in good health.
Yitzhaki, 21, was one of six Israelis attacked last Thursday on a vacation houseboat in Srinagar by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, a leading militant group seeking Kashmir’s secession from predominately Hindu India.
The Israelis snatched the kidnapers’ weapons, and one Israeli and at least one militant were killed in the ensuing battle. Three Israelis who were wounded are expected to be flown home by the weekend, consular officials said.
“I feel wonderful, just wonderful,” Yitzhaki told Israel radio from Srinagar.
“I cannot tell you (any details) because police are questioning me. I can only say they wanted to murder us because we are Jews. They didn’t want money,” he said.
The militants said they released Yitzhaki after determining that he was “simply a tourist.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
