Investigate role of locals in Nadimarg killings: Pandits

JAMMU: On the 15th anniversary of the Nadimarg carnage on Friday, displaced Kashmiri Pandit families from the village called upon the state government to constitute an inquiry commission to investigate the role of locals who provided help to the insurgents to carry out the killings.

Members of Pandit community pay tributes to the victims of Nadimarg massacre in Jammu. Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 23

On the 15th anniversary of the Nadimarg carnage on Friday, displaced Kashmiri Pandit families from the village called upon the state government to constitute an inquiry commission to investigate the role of locals who provided help to the insurgents to carry out the killings.

The demand was raised by the survivors and families belonging to the village during an event in Jammu. The event was organised by Arde Nareshwar Trust at Muthi Camp to remember the 24 persons who were killed at Nadimarg village in south Kashmir on March 23 night in 2003.

Speakers alleged that the successive governments had not carried out a proper investigation into the killings of the Hindus after the eruption of militancy in the Valley which had led to the exodus of 3.5 lakh Pandits.

“The terrorists were not alone in carrying out the killings of Pandits but they had the active support of overground workers who brought them into the village. Those who survived the massacre have been saying this from the first day,” said Bushan Lal, a native of Nadimarg, who lost several friends in the massacre.

Pandits have demanded an independent inquiry commission to investigate and identify the persons who helped the militants carry out the killings.

“The administration has been insensitive and unsympathetic and has failed to book the culprits. Most of them are roaming free,” alleged Ashwani Chrangoo, president, Panun Kashmir.

The programme was also addressed by BJP MLCs GL Raina and Surinder Amberdar.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambardar said those who continue to stay mute on the ‘genocide’ and exodus of Hindus from the Valley are doing injustice to history.

During the event, the community members expressed dismay over the efforts to negate the plight of Pandits in the Kashmir issue.

Demand raised on 15th anniversary

Pandits have demanded an independent inquiry commission to investigate and identify the persons who helped the militants carry out the Nadimarg killings
The demand was raised by the survivors and Pandit families belonging to the village at an event in Jammu to mark the 15th anniversary of the killings on Friday