Introduction
For decades, the picturesque region of Jammu and Kashmir has been marred by a dark undercurrent of violence and terror. What was once perceived primarily as a political conflict has increasingly revealed itself as a religiously motivated campaign targeting Hindu residents and pilgrims.
This year marked the 35th Holocaust Day of the Kashmiri Pandits. (Source: The Tribune)
The Roots of Conflict
While tensions in Jammu and Kashmir date back to the partition of India in 1947, the late 1980s and early 1990s marked a turning point as Pakistan-backed militant groups launched an insurgency aimed at separating the region from India. What began under the guise of a political movement quickly took on religious overtones, with radical Islamist groups targeting the Hindu minority population.
The Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits
One of the most significant events in the region's recent history was the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990. This Hindu community, which had called the Kashmir Valley home for centuries, found itself facing an unprecedented wave of violence and intimidation.
On January 4, 1990, the local Urdu newspaper Aftab published a press release issued by the militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, demanding that all Pandits leave the Valley immediately. This warning was echoed in another daily, Al Safa. In the days that followed, masked militants conducted military-style marches openly in the streets, while mosques broadcast inflammatory speeches and threats against the Pandit community.
The night of January 19, 1990, is seared into the collective memory of Kashmiri Pandits as a night of terror. Despite the imposition of a curfew, thousands of Kashmiri Muslims poured into the streets, shouting slogans like "Death to India" and "Death to Kafirs" (non-believers). The air was filled with chants from mosque loudspeakers, including the ominous ultimatum: "Ralive, Tsaliv ya Galive" (convert to Islam, leave the place, or perish). Some of the slogans used were;
“Zalimo, O Kafiro, Kashmir harmara chod do”.
(O! Merciless, O! Kafirs leave our Kashmir)
“Kashmir mein agar rehna hai, Allah-ho-Akbar kahna hoga”
(Any one wanting to live in Kashmir will have to convert to Islam)
Al Sharqiya al gharbia, Islamia! Islamia!
From East to West, there will be only Islam
“Musalmano jago, Kafiro bhago”,
(O! Muslims, Arise, O! Kafirs, scoot)
“Islam hamara maqsad hai, Quran hamara dastur hai, jehad hamara Rasta hai”
(Islam is our objective, Q’uran is our constitution, Jehad is our way of our life)
“Kashmir banega Pakistan”
(Kashmir will become Pakistan)
“Kashmir banawon Pakistan, Bataw varaie, Batneiw saan”
(We will turn Kashmir into Pakistan alongwith Kashmiri Pandit women, but without their men folk)
“Pakistan se kya Rishta? La Ilah-e- Illalah”
Former Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, M.M. Khajooria, described the atmosphere: "The mischief of the summer of 1989 started with serving notice to the prominent members of the minority community to quit Kashmir." The threats were not idle. On January 15, 1990, M.L. Bhan, a government employee, was killed in Srinagar. Four days later, the brutally tortured body of Baldev Raj Dutta, who had been kidnapped from Lal Chowk, was found.
As the night wore on, Kashmiri Pandits found themselves abandoned, huddled in their homes as frenzied mobs roamed the streets. Calls for help to authorities in Jammu, Srinagar, and Delhi went unanswered. By morning, it was clear that the Pandits faced a stark choice: flee or face almost certain death. In the weeks and months that followed, an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 Kashmiri Pandits fled the Valley. Posters appeared proclaiming Kashmir as the "Islamic Republic of Kashmir," while newspaper advertisements declared: "Aim of the present struggle is the supremacy of Islam in Kashmir, in all walks of life and nothing else. Anyone who puts a hurdle in our way will be annihilated."
The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits represented not just a humanitarian crisis, but the loss of a vital part of Kashmir's cultural fabric. The community's roots in the region stretched back thousands of years, and their departure left an indelible scar on Kashmir's pluralistic heritage.
Escalation of Violence: 1990s and Early 2000s
The 1990s saw a dramatic escalation in terrorist violence across Jammu and Kashmir. While both Muslims and Hindus fell victim to attacks, there was a clear pattern of targeting Hindu civilians, particularly in remote areas.
1998: A Year of Massacres
The year 1998 was particularly bloody, with several large-scale attacks on Hindu civilians:
1. January 1998: 23 Hindu civilians were shot and killed in a village north of Srinagar. This area had once been home to over 100,000 Hindu residents before the insurgency forced many to relocate southwards to predominantly Hindu areas like Jammu.
2. April 1998: In a shocking incident in the Udhampur district, 29 Hindu villagers, including 13 women and children, were brutally murdered in a remote mountainous region. Survivors reported that the attackers targeted the villagers for their refusal to convert to Islam and for allegedly not adhering to dietary restrictions. This massacre provoked widespread outrage and deepened communal tensions.
3. June 20, 1998: In one of the most horrific attacks of the year, terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 25 men attending weddings in the Doda area. The victims were guests from two wedding parties, waiting for a bus after the ceremonies and drinking tea at a village market. Five assailants arrived in a stolen vehicle, initially demanding money and jewelry at gunpoint. They then separated the men and opened fire, killing two bridegrooms among others. This event marked the third instance in six months where terrorists had targeted large gatherings of Hindus for violence in remote rural areas.
4. July 28, 1998: Terrorists attacked a group of pilgrims en route to the Amarnath cave in the Sheshnag campground, resulting in the deaths of 20 pilgrims. This marked the beginning of a pattern of attacks on the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, which would continue in subsequent years.
The Nadimarg Massacre of 2003
On the night of March 23, 2003, Lashkar-e-Taiba militants carried out one of the most brutal attacks in the region's history. In Nadimarg village of Pulwama district, terrorists identified, lined up, and killed 24 Kashmiri Pandits, including 11 men, 11 women, and two children. At the time, only 52 Kashmiri Pandits remained in Nadimarg following the exodus of other Hindus during the 1990 violence.
The attack was meticulously planned. On March 21st and 22nd, the perpetrators, including local youth and terrorists, conducted reconnaissance of Nadimarg to pinpoint the whereabouts of the Kashmiri Pandits. When they arrived on the tragic night, they rounded up the victims, forced them to kneel, and shot them in the head, not sparing even toddlers.
The group was led by Zia Mustafa, their self-proclaimed 'commander', who was later apprehended in 2003 and held in custody. In a twist of fate, Mustafa was killed in October 2021 during an operation to locate terrorist hideouts in a forest in Poonch, when he was caught in crossfire with security forces. In the aftermath of the massacre, three other suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants believed to be involved were killed by Mumbai police on March 29, 2003, and another participant was arrested in April 2003. The Jammu and Kashmir Police also named seven individuals, including five policemen, as accused in the case. In 2022, nearly two decades after the incident, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court ordered the reopening of the Nadimarg massacre case, signaling a renewed effort to seek justice for the victims.
The Nadimarg massacre stood out not only for its brutality but also for targeting one of the few remaining pockets of Kashmiri Pandits who had chosen to stay in the Valley despite the risks. It served as a chilling reminder of the ongoing threat faced by religious minorities in the region and further eroded hopes for their safe return.
Attacks on the Amarnath Yatra
The annual Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to a holy cave shrine in the Himalayas, has been a frequent target for terrorists seeking to sow fear and disrupt interfaith harmony. The pilgrimage, which attracts hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees each year, has faced numerous attacks:
1. August 15, 1993: In one of the earliest recorded attacks, eight pilgrims were killed while traveling to the Amarnath cave.
2. August 2, 2000: Terrorists attacked the Pahalgam base camp, killing 32 people, including 21 pilgrims, and injuring 60 others. This marked one of the deadliest attacks on the pilgrimage.
3. July 20, 2001: Terrorists lobbed grenades at a camp near the Amarnath cave, killing 13 pilgrims and injuring 15 others. Two police officers also lost their lives in this attack.
4. August 6, 2002: Terrorists fired upon the Nunwan base camp of the Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of nine people, including six pilgrims and three others.
5. July 21, 2006: In an attack near the Beehama area of Ganderbal district in central Kashmir, terrorists targeted a bus transporting pilgrims, killing five who were returning from the Amarnath Yatra base camp at Baltal.
6. July 10, 2017: In one of the most recent major attacks, terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims returning from the Amarnath shrine, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals and injuring 15 others. This incident occurred in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
These repeated attacks on the Amarnath Yatra demonstrate the terrorists' intent to not only cause loss of life but also to strike at the heart of Hindu religious practices in the region. The persistence of these attacks, despite increased security measures over the years, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in protecting civilians and religious pilgrims. While large-scale massacres became less frequent in the 2010s, a pattern of targeted killings emerged, with terrorists focusing on individuals or small groups of Hindus, including both longtime residents and migrant workers.
2019: A Year of Tragic Losses
1. October 14, 2019: Sethi Kumar Sagar, a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, was fatally attacked by terrorists in Pulwama district. Sagar, employed at a brick kiln in Oukhoo village, was walking near Kakpora railway station when terrorists opened fire. His mother, Mehtireen, later recounted her last conversation with him, saying, "He couldn't sleep the whole night because he was unwell. As soon as he left from here, security personnel informed us that he had been killed. I am yet to believe that he is no more."
2. October 16, 2019: Terrorists targeted traders Charanjeet Singh Popli and Sanjeev Charaya from Punjab in Trenz, Shopian. Popli succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a wife and an 8-year-old son. His brother Ramesh Kumar explained, "Charanjeet went to Kashmir every year for about 40 days during the apple season with traders as a helper. He used to get the material picked from apple orchards and packed to be finally sent to Abohar."
3. October 28, 2019: Truck driver Narayan Dutt from Reasi district was fatally shot by terrorists in Anantnag. The attack occurred while Dutt was in Kashmir for ration supply. His 15-year-old daughter Tanya Sharma later said, "Before going to Srinagar, my father told us that he would return home on Diwali but we received his dead body this morning as terrorists killed him for no fault."
4. November 4, 2019: A grenade attack at Lalchowk, Srinagar, resulted in one fatality and injured over 42 people. The deceased, Rinku Singh (40) from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was a vendor selling balloons and toys in the bustling Gonikhan market.
2021: Escalation of Targeted Attacks
1. October 5, 2021: Two Hindus lost their lives in separate terrorist attacks. Makhan Lal Bindroo, a 68-year-old Kashmiri Pandit known for his philanthropy and as the owner of Srinagar's popular "Bindroo Medicate" pharmacy, was fatally shot near Iqbal Park. Virendra Paswan, originally from Bihar, was killed in another incident while selling bhelpuri. Bindroo's daughter, Dr. Shraddha Bindroo, later challenged the terrorists, saying, "These people can only kill the body, but not the spirit. They are not capable of having meaningful discussions, or a sane debate."
2. October 7, 2021: Terrorists targeted Satinder Kaur, principal of Government Boys Higher Secondary School, and Deepak Chand, a teacher at the same school. Both were fatally shot at close range during a meeting at the school in Srinagar's Sangam area.
3. October 16, 2021: Arbind Kumar Sah, a 30-year-old street vendor from Banka, Bihar, was killed outside a park at Eidgah in Srinagar. Sah was the sole breadwinner for his impoverished family back in Bihar, selling golgappas to support them.
2022: Continuing of Violence against Innocents
1. May 12, 2022: Rahul Bhat, a 35-year-old Kashmiri Pandit, was fatally shot by terrorists while at his office in central Kashmir's Budgam district. Bhat had secured a position as a clerk in the revenue department under a special employment initiative for migrants in 2010-11. His wife later revealed that Bhat had felt "insecure" while working in Chadoora and had requested a transfer to the district headquarters.
2. May 31, 2022: Rajni Bala, a 36-year-old Hindu school teacher from Samba, Jammu, was killed while at work in Kulgam's Gopalpora neighborhood. A colleague recounted, "She was walking towards her school. Just when she had reached the entrance, a gunman fired from a narrow alley."
3. June 2, 2022: Terrorists targeted two Hindus in separate incidents. Vijay Kumar, a 27-year-old bank manager from Rajasthan, was killed while performing his duties at a bank branch in Kulgam. In another incident, Dilkhush Kumar, an 18-year-old labourer from Bihar, was fatally shot.
4. August 16, 2022: Sunil Kumar, a Kashmiri Pandit, was killed in a terrorist attack at an apple orchard in the Shopian district, while his brother Pintu Kumar was injured.
5. October 15, 2022: Pooran Krishan Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit, was shot dead by terrorists near his residence in the Chowdhary Gund area of Shopian district.
2023-2024: Recent Incidents
1. January 1, 2023: Terrorists invaded homes in Dangri village near Jammu's Rajouri, targeting Hindu families. The attack and a subsequent IED explosion resulted in seven deaths, including two children.
2. February 25, 2023: A 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit was fatally shot by terrorists in Pulwama while on his way to a local market.
3. May 29, 2023: Sham Deepu Kumar, a 27-year-old from Udhampur, was shot and killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in Anantnag district while purchasing milk at a local market.
4. October 30, 2023: Mukesh Singh, a 38-year-old migrant laborer from Uttar Pradesh, was killed by terrorist gunfire in Pulwama's Rajpora area.
5. February 7, 2024: Two laborers from Punjab, Amritpal Singh and Rohit Masih, were attacked by terrorists in Srinagar. Amritpal Singh died immediately, while Rohit Masih succumbed to his injuries later.
6. April 17, 2024: Raju Shah, a street vendor from Bihar, was fatally shot by terrorists in Anantnag district.
7. June 9, 2024: Terrorists ambushed a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least ten people, including women and a young boy, and causing injuries to 33 others.
Analysis of Attack Patterns
Several key patterns emerge from this chronology of attacks:
1. Targeting of Minorities: While both Muslims and Hindus have fallen victim to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, there is a clear pattern of specifically targeting Hindu civilians, both long-time residents and migrant workers.
2. Disruption of Economic Activities: Many attacks have targeted individuals engaged in commerce or labor, such as apple traders, street vendors, and migrant workers. This suggests an attempt to disrupt economic activities and discourage non-locals from working in the region.
3. Attacks on Symbols of Integration: The recurring attacks on the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage and Hindu shrines can be seen as attempts to sever the religious and cultural ties that bind Kashmir to the rest of India.
4. Evolving Tactics: While the 1990s and early 2000s saw large-scale massacres, recent years have been marked by more targeted killings of individuals or small groups. This shift may be due to increased security measures or a change in terrorist strategies to create a persistent atmosphere of fear.
5. Seasonal Patterns: Many attacks, particularly on migrant workers and traders, occur during the harvest season or times of increased economic activity, suggesting a deliberate attempt to disrupt these cycles.
6. Attacks on Education: The targeting of teachers and school administrators, as seen in several incidents, appears to be an attempt to undermine the education system and intimidate professionals from outside the region.
The Human Cost
Behind each statistic and incident report lies a profound human tragedy. Families torn apart, communities living in constant fear, and the erosion of Kashmir's rich multicultural heritage are the real costs of this prolonged conflict.
Dead bodies of Kashmiri Hindus. (Source: The Hans India)
The story of Rahul Bhat, the Kashmiri Pandit killed in 2022, is particularly poignant. Having returned to the Valley under a special employment scheme, Bhat represented the hope of rehabilitating the displaced Pandit community. His murder not only robbed a family of their loved one but also dealt a severe blow to efforts at reconciliation and return.
Similarly, the killing of Makhan Lal Bindroo in 2021 highlighted the loss of individuals who had chosen to stay in Kashmir despite the risks, contributing to the community through their work and philanthropy. His daughter's defiant response to the terrorists – challenging them to engage in meaningful debate rather than violence – encapsulates the resilience of those who continue to believe in a peaceful, pluralistic Kashmir. The targeting of migrant workers like Sethi Kumar Sagar from Chhattisgarh or Arbind Kumar Sah from Bihar underscores the wide-reaching impact of the conflict. These individuals, often from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, travel to Kashmir seeking better opportunities to support their families.
Their deaths not only devastate their immediate families but also send shockwaves through their home communities, deterring others from seeking work in the region. The psychological impact on survivors and witnesses cannot be overstated. Children who have lost parents, like the daughters of Narayan Dutt or the family of Sham Deepu Kumar, face not only the trauma of loss but also uncertain futures without their primary breadwinners.
For the broader Hindu community in Jammu and Kashmir, each attack reinforces a sense of vulnerability and isolation. The constant threat of violence affects daily life, economic decisions, and long-term planning. Many families face the agonizing choice of abandoning their ancestral homes and livelihoods or living under constant threat.
Government Response and Security Measures
The Indian government and local authorities have implemented various measures over the years to combat terrorism and protect civilians in Jammu and Kashmir:
1. Enhanced Security Presence: There has been a significant increase in the deployment of security forces, including the army, paramilitary forces, and local police, especially in sensitive areas and during events like the Amarnath Yatra.
2. Intelligence Operations: Improved intelligence gathering and coordination between different agencies have led to the prevention of some attacks and the neutralization of terrorist operatives.
3. Village Defense Committees: In some areas, local residents have been armed and trained to form Village Defense Committees to provide immediate response to terrorist threats.
4. Employment Schemes: Special employment packages have been introduced to encourage the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, although the effectiveness of these programs has been limited due to ongoing security concerns.
5. Legislative Measures: The government has introduced and amended various laws to strengthen anti-terrorism efforts, including provisions for faster trials and enhanced powers for security forces.
6. Infrastructure Development: Efforts have been made to improve roads, communication networks, and other infrastructure to facilitate better movement and response of security forces.
7. International Diplomacy: The Indian government has consistently worked to highlight Pakistan's role in supporting terrorism in Kashmir on international platforms, seeking to isolate terrorist groups and their sponsors.
Despite these efforts, the persistence of attacks indicates the complex and deeply rooted nature of the conflict. Critics argue that a purely security-oriented approach is insufficient and that more needs to be done to address the underlying political, social, and economic factors contributing to unrest in the region.
The Role of Pakistan
The involvement of Pakistan in fomenting unrest and supporting terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir has been a consistent theme throughout the conflict. Indian authorities and many international observers have pointed to evidence of Pakistan providing training, weapons, and logistical support to various militant groups operating in the region.
Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, which have been implicated in numerous attacks, are known to have bases in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and receive support from elements within the Pakistani establishment, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The "proxy war" strategy employed by Pakistan aims to keep India destabilized and internationalize the Kashmir issue without engaging in direct military confrontation. This approach has evolved over time, from supporting large-scale insurgency in the 1990s to more targeted and deniable operations in recent years.
The cross-border dimension of the conflict adds significant complexity to counter-terrorism efforts. It necessitates not only robust border security measures but also diplomatic initiatives to pressure Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil.
Impact on Kashmir's Culture and Economy
The prolonged conflict has had a profound impact on Kashmir's cultural fabric and economic development:
1. Erosion of Kashmiriyat: The concept of Kashmiriyat, which emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of different religious communities, has been severely strained by the targeted violence against Hindus and the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.
2. Brain Drain: The exodus of educated professionals, particularly from the Pandit community, has led to a significant brain drain, affecting various sectors including education, healthcare, and administration.
3. Economic Stagnation: The persistent violence and instability have deterred investment and stunted economic growth. Tourism, once a major contributor to the local economy, has been particularly hard hit.
4. Cultural Loss: The departure of Kashmiri Pandits has led to the neglect and, in some cases, disappearance of ancient temples, shrines, and cultural practices unique to Kashmir's syncretic traditions.
5. Education Disruption: Frequent shutdowns, curfews, and targeted attacks on educational institutions have severely impacted the quality and continuity of education in the region.
6. Psychological Trauma: The constant threat of violence has led to widespread psychological trauma, affecting mental health and social dynamics across communities.
7. Demographic Changes: The forced migration of Hindus from certain areas has altered the demographic composition of many parts of the Kashmir Valley, potentially having long-term sociopolitical implications.
The Way Forward
Addressing the complex challenges in Jammu and Kashmir requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond security measures. Engaging all stakeholders in a meaningful political dialogue is essential to address grievances and work towards a sustainable resolution of the conflict. This dialogue should include diverse voices to ensure that all perspectives are considered, fostering a sense of inclusion and participation in the peace process.
Economic development plays a crucial role in stabilizing the region. Implementing comprehensive economic plans can create opportunities, particularly for the youth, thereby reducing the allure of extremist ideologies. Job creation, infrastructure development, and support for local businesses can significantly improve the socio-economic landscape, offering alternatives to those who might otherwise be drawn to radicalism. Investing in education and implementing de-radicalization programs are vital for promoting values of pluralism and peaceful coexistence. Education can empower individuals with critical thinking skills and broader perspectives, while targeted de-radicalization initiatives can counter extremist narratives and support those vulnerable to radical influences.
The rehabilitation of displaced communities, including the Kashmiri Pandits, is another critical component. Creating conditions for their safe return, ensuring their security, and facilitating their integration into society are necessary steps to address historical injustices and build a more inclusive community. Cultural preservation initiatives can emphasize Kashmir's rich and syncretic heritage, promoting its diverse traditions. This can foster a sense of pride and unity among the people, highlighting the cultural ties that bind them together despite differences.
Strengthening international cooperation is crucial to combat cross-border terrorism and isolate groups and nations that support terrorist activities. Collaborative efforts with global partners can enhance security measures and ensure a coordinated response to the threats posed by terrorism. Encouraging responsible media reporting and countering propaganda that fuels communal tensions or glorifies violence are essential for building a positive narrative. Media plays a significant role in shaping public perception, and responsible journalism can contribute to peacebuilding efforts by promoting accurate and balanced reporting.
Lastly, implementing programs for trauma healing and reconciliation is vital for communities affected by the conflict. Such programs can help heal the psychological wounds of the past, fostering understanding and reconciliation between different groups. By addressing these multifaceted challenges, a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Jammu and Kashmir can be pursued.
Conclusion
The decades-long conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, marked by targeted violence against Hindus and other minorities, represents one of the most challenging security and humanitarian crises facing India. The human cost of this protracted struggle is immeasurable, with countless lives lost, families displaced, and a rich cultural heritage under threat. While the roots of the conflict are complex, involving historical, political, and geopolitical factors, the pattern of attacks on Hindu civilians, pilgrims, and migrant workers reveals a clear attempt to alter the region's demographic and cultural landscape through fear and violence. The resilience of those who continue to call Kashmir home, despite the risks, is a testament to the enduring spirit of Kashmiriyat and the hope for a peaceful, pluralistic future.
As we have seen through the numerous incidents documented in this article, from the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 to the recent targeted killings, the threat to minority communities in the region remains a pressing concern. Each attack not only claims innocent lives but also deepens the wounds of a divided society and poses significant challenges to efforts at reconciliation and normalization.
The way forward requires a delicate balance between robust security measures and initiatives to address the underlying social, economic, and political issues fueling the conflict. It calls for unwavering commitment from the government, civil society, and the international community to protect vulnerable populations, combat extremist ideologies, and create conditions for sustainable peace and development. Ultimately, the true measure of success in resolving the Kashmir conflict will be the day when people of all faiths can live, work, and worship without fear in the Valley, reclaiming the harmony and coexistence that once defined this beautiful region. Until then, each life lost to terrorism serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing the wounds of Kashmir and building a future free from the shadow of violence.
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