Srinagar
In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmiri Pandits based in the valley staged a sit-in in Srinagar with Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) President Sanjay Tickoo starting a hunger strike-unto-death against the harassment of the members by the Indian authorities.
The Kashmiri Pandits who preferred to stay in the valley in defiance to the orders of the then IIOJK Governor, Jagmohan, said that they were being targeted by the Indian government particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, last year.
“We strongly feel that the Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department is punishing the left out (non-migrant) Kashmiri Pandits for staying back in Kashmir. Since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A, We are facing harassment and isolation at the hands of the Relief Department,” said Tickoo after sitting on the hunger strike. The non-migrants also staged a sit-in at Ganesh Mandir, Ganpatyaar-Habba Kadal in the old city. At present, over 800 non-migrant Pandit families are living in the valley and did not migrate out of the Valley.
Kashmir Pandits who did not migrate from the valley staged a sit-in and Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) president Sanjay Tickoo started a ‘fast-unto-death’ in Srinagar against the ‘punishing’ of the community members in the Valley. According to a report by The Tribune they alleged they were facing harassment at the hands of the Jammu and Kashmir government after the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August last year.
“We strongly feel that the Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department is punishing left out (non-migrant) Kashmiri Pandits – Kashmiri Hindus for staying back in Kashmir.—KMS