How KPs were hounded out of Kashmir.

Jagan Nath Dhar   

During the night of January 19, 1990 and 20, hadis and flee from their homes where their forefathers had been living rages. Some of the persecutors were those who had infiltrated into the valley from Pakistan. They were supported by local bigot sympathisers.

Preparations for this ethnic cleansing had been made earlier Loudspeakers had been installed in 1,500 mosques of the valley These blared slogans during that that fateful night Asi gachhi aansu Pakistan, Batav bagaer, Batinyan saan (we want Pakistan, without male Hindus but with Hindu females)

Another slogan gave Hindus three choices Raeliv, gaelv, ya chaliv (Get converted to Islam, or get murdered or flee from Kashmir) Posters had been displayed on Hindu houses, saying "It is in your interest to leave the valley in 24 hours. Otherwise, your life and honour of your womenfolk is at stake."

A few days before this painful night, the principal executive of the state, Chief Minister Farouq Abdullah resigned, left the state and went to Europe. That provided the Jammu and Kashmir government an opportunity to absolve itself of its basic duty of protecting the life of the minority Hindu community.

Terrified, a majority of Kashmir Hindus tried to flee from the valley on the morning of January 20 for areas beyond across Banihal. They came out of their residences, leaving behind most of their belongings behind, as the time allowed for departure was only 24 hours: Many Hindus were able to take with them only the clothes they were weaning with the small funds that these terrified people could collect, in that short time, they made travel arrangements in busses and trucks. Some of them travelled on foot.

Supporters of the terrorists came out in full strength to jeer at these unfortunate victims of religious hatred. Such communal minded persons stood in line formation on two sides of those roads through which the buses carrying the Hindus were passing. The frenzied onlookers shouted unprintable buses and trucks.

A majority of this exiled population got down at Jammu. The second large number went to Delhi Others went to Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities/

The season was cold. Many among the unfortunate ones had no lodging arrangements. Some of them did not have enough bedding to save themselves from the cold of the wintery nights. They had to live in the open, with sky as their roof. Some of them were bitten by poisonous snakes. Others died of cold-accentuated diseases of lungs and chest.

Organisations of Kashmiri Hindus, operating outside the valley, helped the exiled population to have basic requirements of life. Some Indian state governments, also, helped this unfortunate section of society.

The January 19-20 scenario was preceded and followed by frightening torture. A Hindu Judge was shot dead for having delivered a judgment against the wishes of the terrorists. Two prominent pleaders were shot dead because they did not support the demand of Kashmir joining Pakistan. Two Hindu political activists were done to death for the same reason. Eyes of some Hindu scholars were gouged before they were murdered. A Hindu woman was raped and, then cut to pieces in a saw mill.

Individual letters were sent to those neighbouring Hindus who did not get out of the valley on January 20. They were asked to leave immediately. False allegations were levelled against innocent Hindus that they were informants of security forces. Armed Jihadis thrust themselves into the houses of alleged informers, during night time, so that the assailants could not be recognized. They shot victims dead. Calves of Hindu families were killed and their owner womenfolk were forced to cook the meat of the calves for the consumption of the terrorists. The aim was to convey a message to Hindus that their religious sentiments would not be tolerated in the valley.

Such incidents increased the sense of insecurity among Kashmiri Hindus and more of them left the Valley. As a result, while the population of Hindus living in Kashmir used to be seven lakhs, now it is ten thousand. After the Hindus left Kashmir their houses, business establishments, lands and orchards were usurped by their neighbours. At places, the state government set up bus stands and other establishments on evacuee Hindu lands. Most of the Hindu religious and cultural centres were vandalised, burnt or raised to ground. If some Hindus, today, want to live in the valley, they will find themselves cut off from their roots.

Hindus are the original residents of Kashmir. During the past seven centuries, since Islam came to the valley, large conversions to Islam have taken place through force, threat of murder and mass killing of those who did not convert.

Original, Hindu historical names are being changed. Anantnag town is called Islamabad.

Shankaracharya Hill is Koh-e-Sulaiman. Srinagar is being renamed Shehar-e-Khaas. Nomenclatures of many villages have been changed. The aim is to obliterate the memories of Hindu institutions of the valley.

Most of the Hindu youth have been denied chances of employment in government service. During the years of exile many of them have become over-aged for appointment. Hindu businessmen, orchard owners, agriculturists and professionals have lost their sources of livelihood.

For a quarter century now, this community is struggling to be recognized as an internally-displaced population. That recognition has not come.

The exiled community has been seeking such security arrangements in the valley as will enable its members to live there in a sense of security and have safeguards of fundamental human rights guaranteed by the constitution of India and of other civilised countries. This, too, has not materialised.

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Courtesy:- Jagan Nath Dhar and February 2015 Koshur Samachar