Chronology Of The Kidnappings

Mon., Aug. 14, 1995

Associated Press

Events in the kidnapping of six Western tourists by Kashmiri militants:

July 4 - Al-Faran, a Kashmiri militant group, kidnaps John Childs and Donald Hutchings of the United States and Keith Mangan and Paul Wells of England while they are on a trek with their wives and girlfriends in the Pahalgam area, 40 miles south of Srinagar. The women are released soon after.

July 6 - News of the kidnapping comes to light. The militants demand the release of 21 jailed rebels by July 15.

July 8 - Al-Faran kidnaps Dirk Hasert of Germany and Hans Christian Ostro of Norway. Childs escapes and is rescued.

July 15 - Kidnappers extend by two days a deadline for the Indian government to free 21 jailed rebels.

July 17 - Al-Faran threatens to kill the hostages at any time.

July 21 - Al-Faran claims two hostages were wounded during a gunfight between militants and Indian soldiers. The Indian government denies any clash took place.

Aug. 5 - Al-Faran releases pictures of Hutchings and Mangan lying on a floor swathed in bandages. The militant group scales back its demand, requiring the release of 15 jailed militants.

Aug. 12 - Relatives of the five hostages appeal to Al-Faran to free the men.

Aug. 13 - Ostro’s decapitated body is found with a note from Al-Faran threatening to kill the remaining hostages in two days if the militants are not released.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Chronology Of The Kidnappings

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Todd Blanche confirmed by Senate as attorney general

Joe Biden’s cancer has spread, Hunter Biden says

Funding patch passes Senate to head off fall shutdown