No Kashmiri Pandit left J&K this year: Govt in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, July 27

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As per records, no Kashmiri Pandit left the Kashmir valley during 2022, the government said in the Rajya Sabha on being asked about the details of Kashmiri Pandits who had left the Valley during the current year.

A total of six Kashmiri Pandits were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Of them, one was killed in 2020, four in 2021 and one on July 20 this year. Since 2019 August, nine government employees (excluding security forces), including one Kashmiri Pandit, lost their lives in terror-related incidents in J&K.

A total of 6,514 Kashmiri Pandits were living in the Valley as on July 20, the maximum of 2,639 Kashmiri Pandits in Kulgam district, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai told Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party) during Question Hour.

The information comes at a time when many members of the minority community in J&K became victims of targeted killings since last year and there were reports of Kashmiri Pandits leaving the Valley.

He further said the security situation had improved significantly, resulting in a substantial decline in terror attacks from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021.

At the same time, the Minister said Kashmiri migrants had been posted at safer zones within the Kashmir Division. — TNS

6 Kashmiri Pandits killed by ultras in 30 mths

• n Six Kashmiri Pandits killed by terrorists in J&K since 2020
• n Of them, one killed in 2020, 4 in 2021 and 1 on July 20 this year