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Targeted killings trigger fear among Rajputs in Kashmir


Date:- 15 Apr 2022


Minority Rajputs in Kashmir blame the bracketing of their community with Kashmiri Pandits as a reason for the killing of one of their members by terrorists in south Kashmir. Terrorists shot dead Satish Kumar Singh, a Rajput, in the Kakran village of Kulgam district yesterday. He is survived by his wife and three children.

The killing triggered protests by the Rajputs who cremated the body only after the local administration assured them that their security and livelihood concerns would be addressed.

The Rajput community has been living in Kashmir for over 150 years and had never faced any threat from the Muslims, community leaders say. “Rajputs have always felt loved and protected in their (Muslims) presence, but a dangerous narrative is being built to bracket us as part of the Kashmir Pandit community,” said Jagdish Singh from Kulgam. “Kashmiri Pandits have their politics and we are not a party to that. They screw up things and other Hindus have to face the consequences here,” said Singh while referring to the “anti-Kashmiri Muslim” narrative being peddled in the media.

At least three Kashmiri Hindus other than Pandits have been killed by militants in Kashmir since January 2021. Local Muslims have extended their support to the Rajput community, but they also feel scared and helpless in stopping the killings. “Everyone in the village is in pain because of the killing of our neighbour, but the situation is so bad that we can’t say or do anything. We are helpless,” said a local Muslim. Rajput community member Ravinder Singh said, “We have lost confidence to live here. An investigation should be launched to unearth who is killing civilians.”

Ashok Singh, another Rajput, wants to leave Kashmir because of lack of security. “We will not cremate the body here. The government should provide us vehicles so that we can leave this place immediately,” he said.

However, after intervention from the district administration, the community leaders agreed to cremate the body at a local cremation ground.

Fifty-five-year-old Singh, who received a bullet in the head and two in the chest, was taken to a hospital in Srinagar where he died. Officials say a new recruit of the Lashkar-e-Toiba was involved in the attack. Terrorists have stepped up attacks on civilians in south Kashmir over the past 10 days.

Four non-local labourers were injured in two separate attacks in Pulwama last week, while a Kashmiri Pandit shopkeeper was shot at by terrorists in Shopian.

The attack on the civilian in Kulgam came on a day a “threat” letter surfaced at Veeraan village in Baramulla district of north Kashmir.

Living in valley for 150 years

  • Living in Kashmir for over 150 years, Rajput community never faced any threat and, thus, never thought of migration
  • A Rajput community member was shot dead by suspected militants at Kakran village of Kulgam district on Wednesday
  • The killing triggered protests by the Rajputs who cremated the body only after the local administration assured them of providing security and guarding their livelihood

Courtesy: The Tribune India: 14th April , 2022