Kashmir Militancy and the Pandits

Abstract

Kashmiri Pandits are the original inhabitants of the Kashmir valley. The beginning of the 14th century and the period that followed witnessed so many incidents in the life of the Pandits. Origin of Kashmiri Pandit community covers more than a period of five thousand years. Kashmiri Pandits are Saraswat Brahmins. According to Kalahana, his Rajatarangini explained the origin of the community their beliefs, customs, traditions, Socio-Economic situations along with certain festivals of Pandits. Before Independence, Kashmiri Pandits lived a peaceful life in the valley and enjoyed all rights available to the citizens. They formed an important part of Kashmiriyath. During the communal flare-ups of the partition, their land lordship over agricultural land got eschewed under the tenancy and land reforms initiated by the people(s) government in 1952 affected a large number of Pandit families. In course of time Pakistan(s) militancy operation destroyed the peace and unity of secular minded Kashmiris and minority Pandit community. After independence; the Pakistanis fought more than four wars with India. These war games between India and Pakistan destroyed the peace and security, not only of the Kashmir Pandit community, but the whole Kashmir valley. Human rights abuses have been a cause as well as a consequence of the insurgency in Kashmir. During the year that followed Pakistan sent guerillas to Kashmir in 1965 under operation Gibraltar, which lead to a full-scale war. Six years later another war between India and Pakistan resulted in the bifurcation of Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh and subsequent signing of Shimla Agreement under which both countries were to resolve the issue bilaterally. The minority Pandits of the valley became the victims of this operation and they were gunned down indiscriminately, hanged or murdered by other brutal means. Torture, molestation and rape, threatening letters and telephone calls, posters and bit notices pasted on doors and warnings through newspapers for the whole community to leave the valley within short and specified time. Nearly Three thousand members of this community have been done to death, and nearly three hundred thousand forced into exile.

Keywords: N.A.

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