Kashmiri Pandits observe Balidan Diwas, pay homage to martyrs

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 14

Scrap Article ‘35 A’ and Article 370 for the smooth movement of people across Jammu and Kashmir, demanded the handful of Kashmiri Pandits residing in the city. In a gathering here on Friday, the Kashmiri Pandits paid homage to martyrs, who lost their lives in 1989, when Pakistan-backed terrorists in collaboration with Kashmiri secessionist started killing prominent Kashmiri Hindus (Kashmiri Pandits ) in Kashmir Valley.

In this regard, Jalandhar Harmukh Kashmiri Samiti observed September 14 as Balidan Diwas. The community members said, every year since 1989, they observed this day to remember martyrs such as Tika Lal Taploo, who was killed while fighting for the rights of Kashmiri Pandits.

President of the Harmukh Kashmiri Samiti MK Kaul said, “Martyrs day is being observed every year by Kashmiri Pandit community on September 14 all over the world, as the day of protest against the brutal killing of Pandits. The people who left the valley owing to the mass genocide pay homage to all the people who fell to the bullets of the Islamic terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajinder Kaul, another member said, during the horrifying phase, scores of women were raped, 1,500 Kashmiri Pandits and 5,000 security personnel were martyred and more than 5 lakh people were thrown out of their homes. He added that around 50,000 ashmiri Pandits lost their lives due to heat, starvation and snake bites, but not a single conviction had been filed till date.