- Title: Exiled Kashmiri minorities in 90s now worry for kin safety in valley
- Date: 10th October 2021
- Summary: JAMMU, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA (OCTOBER 09, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) EXILED KASHMIRI HINDUS SOCIETY MAN WALKING WITH BAG EXILED KASHMIRI HINDU COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEATED MAN STANDING HOLDING BABY IN HIS ARMS PEOPLE WALKING IN EXILED KASHMIRI HINDU SOCIETY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AND TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) EXILED KASHMIRI HINDU WHO REQUESTED NOT TO BE NAMED FOR SECURITY REASONS, SAYING: "That poor man from Bihar (state) was simply a street food vendor, what was his fault? Those teachers that they killed in the school, were asked for their names and on that basis they murdered them. What worse situation do you expect? They are identifying Hindus specifically and killing them. When the 90s exodus happened they had killed my cousin." CHILDREN PLAYING MAN SEATED VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN SOCIETY AREA (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) EXILED KASHMIRI HINDU WHO REQUESTED NOT TO BE NAMED FOR SECURITY REASONS, SAYING: "We are asking the government to provide tight security for our kin, our children who are working there for employment. Keep them in a security zone so that such incidents don't occur again. We are only asking that no more 'pandits' (Kashmiri Hindus who faced exodus in the 90s) should be harmed. If it happens, it will not be good. We are saying that it won't be good for those who are instigating the youth of Kashmir to choose militancy." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN EXILED KASHMIRI HINDUS AREA MAN UNLOADING LUGGAGE FROM VEHICLE FOR PEOPLE WHO RETURNED FROM KASHMIR VALLEY AMID ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR LUGGAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi and English) EXILED KASHMIRI HINDU WHO REQUESTED NOT TO BE NAMED FOR SECURITY REASONS, SAYING: "They (higher powers instigating militancy in Kashmir valley) are out of control at the moment. We can't save ourselves. This is a war. They are targeting minorities in Kashmir because there are many houses, lands, temple properties, etc. there which they illegally captured, which they fear would be taken back by the Hindus. That is why they are spoiling the environment there. That is why they are creating an atmosphere of fear and are troubling our kin." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TALKING
- Embargoed: 24th October 2021 12:11
- Keywords: India Jammu Kashmir Kashmiri Hindus Kashmiri Pandit Pakistan civilians exiled fear killing militants refugees
- Location: JAMMU, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA
- City: JAMMU, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001EYKRAZ3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Kashmiri Hindus who were exiled from the valley during the rise of Islamic militancy are now worried for the safety of their kin after the recent killings of minorities.
Several local minorities, who are working in the Kashmir Valley are now leaving as local media reported swathes of vehicles coming from the valley towards Jammu.
At least five, including two schoolteachers, belonging to regional minority Sikh and Hindu communities, were killed in Srinagar, the capital city, earlier this week.
"What worse situation do you expect? They are identifying Hindus specifically and killing them," said an exiled Kashmiri Hindu living in Jammu, who requested not to be named, as he felt his community and their close relatives living in Kashmir were under threat.
His family member he said could not find a vehicle to return home the previous day as everything was full. However, he found one on Saturday (October 09) and was on his way home.
"We are asking the government to provide tight security for our kin, our children who are working there for employment. Keep them in a security zone so that such incidents don't repeat themselves," said another exiled community member on Saturday.
Armed militants have waged a bloody insurgency against New Delhi since the 1990s in Jammu and Kashmir, which was India's only Muslim-majority state until Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government split it into two federally-administered territories in August 2019.
The region is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, but each country only controls parts of it. India blames Pakistan for fuelling militancy in Kashmir, a charge that Pakistan denies. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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