Spurt in killings: Kashmiri Pandits fear 1990 re-run, want to shift

Srinagar/Anantnag, October 8

As a spate of targeted killings of minorities rock Kashmir, there have been reports about Hindu families leaving the Valley, mostly those who got employment under the Prime Minister’s rehabilitation programme in 2010-11.

“The emerging situation reminds us of the similar situation that of 1990s, which led to the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits,” they say.

Vessu migrant camp in Qazigund area of South Kashmir, which houses around 380 families, became an epicentre of administrative actions on Friday morning when Anantnag Deputy Commissioner Piyush Singla along with police officers pleaded the families not to leave the transit camp. “He assured us of complete security and requested us not to move to Jammu,” said Sunny Raina, president of Vessu camp employee association.

He said 20% of the 380 families had left on Thursday. Vinod Raina, who is the president of PM package employee’s association at Mattan, an area in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, says that around 250 people living outside the transit camps have left for Jammu since attack on minority community started a few day back.

“Around 500 people have started leaving from areas like Budgam, Anantnag and Pulwama,” says Sanjay Tiku, president of Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti. — PTI

Ensure safety

The attacks are painful. The Central Government should take immediate steps to ensure safety of all citizens. — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress leader

Creating a wedge

The attacks aim to create a wedge between communities. The majority community should give a sense of security to our brothers. — Omar Abdullah, NC leader

Wrong policies

The wrong measures taken by the BJP-led Central Government are responsible for the worsening situation in J&K. — Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president