Nadimarg Massacre

Terrorists target Kashmiri Pandits once again

KS Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 8: On March 23 Nadimarg entered as yet another chapter in the history of genocide of Kashmiri Pandits. In a brutal display of savagery, the merchants of terror, waging Jehadic war moved down 24 Kashmiri Hindus, including 11 women and two children. Nadimarg, a village 7 kms from Bijbehara, the home town of the State Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, showed to the whole world how hollow were the claims of the State Government that situation was ripe for the journey back home. Government's so called return plan has only paved the way for yet another exodus by those who had braved the selective killings and massacres, of their co-religionists during the past thirteen years.

Nadimarg, a picturesque village is located 1½ kms away from Zainapore, the historic town founded by the benevolent king, Zain-ul-Abdin, in the fifteenth century. The Pandits had named the king as 'Bata Shah', (protector of Pandits) because of the protection he provided to them, after he called them back from exile and hiding. Today the town stands witness to intolerance. A small stream demarcates the Pandit locality from the Muslim mohalla. In 1990, the village had 51 families . Presently there were only eleven families with 52 members. These families belonged to the downtrodden section of the Pandit community. Their survival depended on either class IV jobs or meagre land they possessed. Some of these families would supplement their meagre income by doing side jobs. At the time of the massacre, sixteen members of this community had been out to some neighbouring village tolerance.

In the chapter of intolerance, being scripted by the religious warriors, nearly fifteen hundred members of the minority, community have been killed in 80 massacres in J&K. For Kashmiri Pandits, Nadimarg massacre is fifth one, since the 'popular' govt took reins of power in 1996. Terrorists have attacked Pandits through massacre in these districts--Budgam (March 20, Sangrampora), Srinagar 25/26 Jan., Wandhama), Anantnag (Jan 20-Telwani, Aug. 2002 Sirigufwara). The main motive behind these massacres is to terrorise the minorities and force them to migrate. For the last three years the incidents involving attacks on minorities and their religious places have been occurring with regular frequency. Incidentally, the Kashmiri Pandit exodus started in 1990, when the present Chief Minister was Union Home Minister.

March 23:

Equewitnesses, who survived the carnage said a group of 4-7, heavily armed terrorists, dressed in army uniform, descended on Nadimarg hamlet at around 10.30 PM, when the victims were going to sleep. They first went to the police picket, set up to safeguard Pandit population of the village. Presently, nine policemen had been posted here, while twenty constables had been withdrawn before the assembly elections. These nine cops were supposed to look after the protection of 55 families in a radius of 15-20 km.

At the time of the attack only five cops were present. These poorly motivated policemen meekly surrendered their weapons, four SLRs, three 303 Rifles, one carbine and the lone wireless set to the terrorists and escaped from the scene. Knowing the identity of police cops, the terrorists did not touch police. The cops even did not go to report the massacre to the nearby Zainpora police station.

The terrorists, after looting arms and ammunition of the policemen, went to knock at the doors of Kashmiri Pandit houses. They commanded them to assemble in the compound near the picket under a Chinar tree. Those who did not comply with orders had their doors broken open. Terrorists, in fact, beat some people, who were reluctant to come out.

Phoola, who lost her husband and daughter told reporters, "The terrorists were calling the people by name. After identifying them they took them to the compound. They told us they were armymen, and had to search the houses. They asked everybody to come out". While driving the residents out, the terrorists looted cash and snatched away gold and ornaments from women. This had not been the style of terrorists in previous massacres.

When the terrorists knocked at Phoola's house, she and her daughter pushed Chand Ji, her son into a chimney, before opening the door Phoola herself slipped away from the line and hid in the bushes, just metres from the massacre site.

Soom Nath, a government servant had retired recently. He had brought his gratuity money and other pensionary benefits to home and kept these in the cupboard. He said terrorists were carrying torches and introduced themselves as troops. They asked all the family members to vacate their homes and assemble near the Chinar tree in the main compound, he added. Soom Nath was slapped twice and asked to show other family members. His wife was taken outside and was asked to join other Pandits under the Chinar tree. Soom Nath's son smelt a rat and hid himself under the cot. He and his wife gave slip to the terrorists and hid themselves behind the haystack. Though Chuni Lal's family was lucky to escape, the terrorists looted away his cash of Rs 1.7 lakhs and other costly items before fleeing from the scene.

After collecting the Pandits under the Chinar tree, the terrorists began looting Pandit houses. The looted goods were put in a matador. The Pandits thought, possibly the intention of the terrorists was to loot them and their lives would be spared. But soon after the matador was despatched, the terrorists opened fire in discriminately upon the hapless Pandits, killing 24 people. Chuni Lal, who had been hit in the thigh fell down and found himself in a pile of dead bodies. As guns fell silent, the gunmen came to check for any living. In a pool of blood, Chuni Lal held his breath and feigned death.

The killers had left and reached near the school, a few dozen metres away, when they heard the cries of a child. Mohan Lal Bhat recalled, "I heard one of them shout to others that there is some work still to be done. Then I heard a gun shot. Later I got to know it was Monu". Bullets had made sieve of his chest. Devki (75), w/o Jiya Lal was dragged upto carnage site and her pleas of mercy were turned down. Gunwati, a 90-year old paralytic lady asked the killers to kill her too. A terrorist told her in Kashmiri that there was no need to kill a dead person. A 23 year old handicapped girl, who could not walk because of her disability was dragged out, and shot dead.

Most of the victims were found with bullet holes in the face. Survivors said many of the people were killed in cold blood from point blank range. Almost all the bodies were found with gun shot wounds in their heads.

Ramesh Koul, who lost his father, took great risk to reach Zainapora police station at 1.00 AM. The police cops told him they can go to Nadimarg only after they receive orders from above. Zainpora police party reached Nadimarg at 4 AM, while senior officials and security forces' commanders reached the carnage site only in the morning. Even the chief minister was informed by DGP only at 6.30 AM.

In the carnage, the whole family of Bansi Lal (59), his wife Bindri (55), daughter Girja (35), daughter Princy (20) and son Rakesh was wiped out. Suraj had gone to sleep after celebrating his third birthday. His grandfather Dwarka Nath had come on the occasion with presents from Fatehpur village. Dwarka Nath lost his both daughters and two grandsons. Only a three month infant who had been sleeping escaped the eyes of the killers. There were 12 survivors, who managed to hide in darkness.

A day after the massacre, it was a horrifying scene in the village. Blood and body parts were littered everywhere. At the carnage site, shoes, blankets and lantern were scattered. A correspondent of a leading English daily wrote, "once a prosperous village, Nadimarg today presented a look of war ravaged hamlet. The difference was that instead of helmets of soldiers, the boots and the caps of the innocent civilians were scattered everywhere. The killers had dumped the bodies on the spot as if they wanted vultures to eat them. It was a scene that could even send a cold-hearted person to a virtual shock. A large row of bodies, wrapped in a shroud, with blood making its way out of the thin white coffin".

The cremation was delayed by the administration for the arrival of the chief minister. But no politician or official of the administration stayed back for cremation. As the bodies were being lined up for funeral, on old Pandit who could not walk, wept bitterly at the verandah of his house and said, "I have not lost just my family. I feel my roots have ditched me. I will never belong to Kashmir again".

Advani's Visit:

Nearly two hundred Pandits from Nadimarg and other neighbouring villages assembled to give hostile reception to the Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani. They were inconsolable and accused Mufti government for not providing security despite requests made to government. The people shouted slogans against Mr Advani and Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and attacked 'healing touch policy'. The chief minister had to face serious embarrassment, when Pandits named officials who were responsible for security lapse. The protestors shouted, "we want migration...J&K Police Hai Hai. Healing Touch Hai Hai". DGP and senior police officials were hooted down. A lone survivor of a family, wiped out in the carnage, Mohan Lal alias Vicky, was so emotional that he shoulted at Mr Advani and Mufti Sayeed that he too must "be shot dead". He asked them, "what for I have to live now, kill me, please, kill me". Chandji, who survived miraculously asked Mr Advani what they had given to the Pandit community except for "death and destruction".

In a remorseful mood, Advani consoled the relatives of the victims, saying, "I must admit we have not done justice to you". They asked him if government could not protect eight thousand Pandits left in the Valley, how could it talk of return of more than two lakh displaced members of the community. When the Pandits demanded dismissal of Mufti government, he told them the NDA government would use Article 356 only in extreme cases.

Security Lapse:

Why did Nadimarg massacre took place? Where were the lapses? Mr MM Khajuria a former DPG of the state said, "The terrorists normally leave the Pandits staying back in the Valley alone. In fact, they are considered a 'war asset' by their foreign masters. Pawns in the hands of the merchants of terror, these Pandits were handy for strategic butchering as and when required. Such massacres have broadly followed a set pattern".

The former DPG also points his finger at the state government for its casual approach. He observed, "...the plan for securing return of Pandit migrants to Kashmir failed to address the basic and crucial requirement of a sturdy and fool proof security cover for those already there...The omission to conduct a comprehensive and realistic appraisal of the ground reality while planning the 'Go Home Project' for the migrants and put in place necessary security cover has not only made the Nadimarg tragedy possible but also exposed the mighty Indian state to ridicule...In view of the overall security environment, the threat perception, the known modus-operandi of the enemy, and their established capability to mount such operations something much more than establishment of symbolic police pickets needed to be done".

Survivors of the carnage put the whole blame on the administration. The women folk had observed suspicious movement a week prior to the attack. A few days before, a milkman had told Pandits to be careful. Chuni Lal said, "we had some fears about our safety for the past two days. We went to meet DC Anantnag on 22nd and had asked for additional security. The DC ignored our plea...they came only after our fears came to true". The Pandits had also met DC Pulwama, Ms Naseema Lankar but to no help. They approached two local MLAs of CPM and also alerted their brethren in Jammu. A delegation of Panun Kashmir had met the State Governor and Mr ID Swami. On 21st, two days before the massacre, Panun Kashmir held a press conference and tried to impress upon the state government that its decision was ill-conceived and could create problems for Pandits. On the day of the massacre, a Pandit of a neighbouring village had to visit Nadimarg for distributing marriage cards. He was advised by his Muslim friend not to stay in the village that night and return home. How could all these inputs be not in the knowledge of the police intelligence. Even the SHO Zainapora had described Nadimarg as hypersensitive. A fortnight back there was a attack on Telephone Exchange at Zainapora.

The survivors have also alleged that the terrorists were in connivance with some cops, deployed at the police picket. They added that the terrorists picked up and chose men and women from the inhabited houses only and did not enter the inhabited ones. According to these Pandits a few of the militants were Kashmiris. A delegation of Kashmiri Pandit Sabha which visited Nadimarg did not rule out the involvement of some locals from the neighbouring village, Yaripora. The particular village has remained a stronghold of Jamaat Islami. A few Pandit families, which migrated from other villages said new vested interests have emerged in Valley and they have been trying to throw them out of the Valley.

Justice (retd.) Ghulam Ahmed Kuchay, in his capacity as head of State Human Rights Commission, had probed Wandhama massacre. He had stated in his six page report that Wandhama massacre may be taken as a warning note and proper measures needed to be initiated to prevent such incidents. He told the media, "I had given a detailed account of things and recommended measures. But none of these were implemented".

The Pandit community and the NC President, Omar Abdullah have also accused the chief minister of bungling the return issue. They have charged that he had been building media-hype on the issue, without taking ground reality into account. In a veiled criticism of state government's plan, Deputy Prime Minister had told Rajya Sabha on March 12, "The yardstick for their return will be safety. The Kashmiri migrants are still not convinced about their safety in the Valley. Nobody will be pushed anywhere. ” Referring to the state government's plan, he added that unless they (migrants) are convinced the plan will not succeed. Taking part in the discussion, Dr Farooq Abdullah warned that Pandits would not be safe in the Valley. He added, "I do not think conditions are conducive enough for these people to go back. The government's plans to set up two colonies would not solve the problem. The government had to provide security to them. The former chief minister warned, "they will became a target of the Al-Qaida and other movements. The fallout of any attack would be felt in other places of the country".

In the wake of Nadimarg massacre, nearly two hundred members of 32 families of Pandit community have migrated from such places like Kangan, Magam, Karan Nagar, Sathu, Kulgam, Sirhama etc. The government fears if Nadimarg survivors are allowed to go, Pandits in other villages will follow suit.

'The massacre dented its (State Government's) image and the migration would deepen the dent'. The district administration, whose negligence led to massacre, had brought Nadimarg survivors back from Barsoo, when they were on way to Jammu. Presently survivors are living as 'captives' in Nadimarg. This has further eroded the image and credibility of PDP-led government. Nadimarg  Pandits told mediamen, "we have been held hostages in the village as no member of the community from rest of the Valley is allowed to see us nor are we allowed to go out". Meanwhile Pandits in other parts of the Valley are feeling apprehensive about their safety and have demand a CBI or judicial probe in all aspects of massacre. They have also demanded strong action against guilty officials. The state government too is in a fix how to provide fool-proof security to 271 hamlets of Kashmir Pandits.

Return of Pandits is a national issue. Its use for partisan ends can only be detrimental to their ultimate return.

Victims of Nadimarg massacre, 23-3-03

1. Bansi Lal (70), S/o Daya Ram

2. Rajni (22) D/o Bansi Lal

3. Lok Nath (40) S/o Kanth Ram

4. Radhakrishan (60) S/o Kanth Ram

5. Pradhiman Krishan (25) S/o Radhakrishan

6. Geeta (40) W/o Radha Krishan

7. Ramesh Pandit

8. Lassa Koul (70) S/o Govind Ram

9. Triloki Nath (55) F/o Manohar Nath Pandit

10. Sangeeta (30) W/o Manohar Nath Pandit

11. Suraj Kumar (3) S/o Manohar Nath Pandit

12. Suman (Julie) (30), W/o Satish Kumar Pandit

13. Monu Raj (2) S/o Satish Kumar

14. Chand Rani (40) W/o Chuni Lal

15. Jiya Lal Bhat (80)

16. Devki (75) W/o Jiya Lal Bhat

17. Sushma (26) D/o Jiya Lal

18. Avtar Krishan (55) S/o Jiya Lal

19. Girja Kumari (23) D/o Bansi Lal

20. Princy (27) D/o Bansi Lal

21. Rakesh Kumar (22) S/o Jiya Lal

22. Bansi Lal (50) S/o Jiya Lal

23. Umat Kumar (20) S/o Avtar Krishan

24. Ashajee (Bindri) 40) W/o Bansi Lal

Injured: Chuni Lal

Survivors of Carnage:

1. Mohan Lal Bhat

2. Ramesh Koul

3. Chuni Lal and his son (4) Deep

5. Phoola Devi

6. Gunwati

7. Som Nath (8) his wife and (9) his son

10. 3 month old child of Satish Kumar

11. Sanjay Koul

12. Manohar Nath Pandit

13. Pran Nath Bhat

14. Rohit

15. Bhushan Lal

**

Kashmiri Pandits staying in Valley at the time of Nadimarg massacre

Total No. of Families : 1535       Number of People : 7823      No. of Localities : 271

                                                    District

                        Srinagar   Budgam   Baramulla   Kupwara   Anantnag   Pulwama

No. of Families:    557          112          313             16            419           118

No. of People :     2228         425         1404            64           1859          1543  

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