Kashmiri Pandit Exodus 1990s! Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas

Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Kashmiri Pandit Exodus 1990s! Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas
After two decades of exile:This is an important piece of work. And much enough to enlighten and inform the community that has been holding Kashmiris responsible for their exodus and killings (209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say JK cops in first). Though everyone has condemned the killings of the minority people, they are yet to condemn the killings faced by the popular majority. But this one is exception. Professor Manohar Nath Tikko, 74, was a college teacher and head of the department of Education at the Governmnt College Islamabad. He lived in Haire Mohalla, Janglat Mandi in Islamabad before he left Kashmir at the peak of insurgency in 1990. For the last two decades, he is living at the scorching locale of Bohdi in Jammu.

Q1) What prompted your migration?

A:-I left with my family on Friday, 31st May 1990 with the first light in the dawn and reached Jammu same day in the early afternoon. I still remember that fateful day when I was forced by none other than my own wife and daughters to leave. All my Muslim neighbours came to my home biding my family a fond farewell with tearful eyes. Me and my neighbours never wanted my family to leave Kashmir but there was definitely a massive psychological fear created by unknown agencies against the Kashmiri Pandits which forced us to leave. Although the fact remains that not a single Muslim forced us to leave.

Q2) Do you nurture any dreams of coming back?

A:- Well, I do believe that Pundits will get back to their home land but I can't predict a time for it. However, I don't not believe the Central [Indian] or [local] State government claims that the Pandits will be rehabilitated in their original homes. This is a blatant lie, as there hasn't been any strategy for our rehabilitation since we have left the Valley. The past governments did built some residential houses at places like Tulmul, Budgam and Mattan, but I believe this was for electoral politics.

Q3) There are many examples of Pandits returning back. Could you perhaps follow the suit?

A:- No I am sorry. I don't hesitate to tell u a stark fact that I would feel emotionally insulted if I return back to my home this time because we left our mother land without any force from our fellow people. I believe that Kashmiri Pundits should have remained in the Valley and they must have fought the freedom struggle with their fellow Muslim citizens. Even we should have sacrificed in the similar fashion our Muslim brothers did for the Kashmir cause, but unfortunately we did not do that. Even I wouldn't mind if hundred thousand Kashmir Pundits would have been martyred for freedom struggle because Kashmir cause has no less a meaning for Kashmiri Pundits. It is bizarre when we "Kashmir Pundits" vociferously beat the drums, searching for "Panun Kashmir", ironically outside the Kashmir , therefore it has literally lost its spirit and meaning..

Q4) How do you view the Kashmir problem?

A:- Kashmir is a very old issue which has mutated into a monster now. But it can be solved by sincere and honest leadership in India , Pakistan and Kashmir . Gimmicks like holding elections cannot be used to fade the reality of Kashmir being an unresolved issue. Holding election in the presence of half a million troops shows the level of legitimacy and the feigned democratic nature in Kashmir . My personal opinion is that Kashmir issue is the issue of those who speak Kashmiri language. It should not be hyphenated or related to the other parts like Jammu and Ladakh; they have never been a relative part of Kashmir and had never any cultural, ethnic or communication links with Kashmir . Kashmir has its own history and it should be recognized as an independent state. It had never been a part of India or British India.

Q5) Would the Kashmiri Pandits accept independent Kashmir?

A:- Well, not necessarily. I am expressing my opinion without any bias and duality. The opinions are never same even on a common issue. Let me tell you that majority of Pandits did not support Sheikh Abdullah but the Ahrar Party of Moulvi Yousuf Shah. Well known Pandit activists Prem Nath Bazaz and Prem Nath Yash were in favour of Kashmir's accession with Pakistan . I still remember that time when people were asked to opt between India and Pakistan . My late father Sarvanand Tikko who was the Post Master at Anantnag at that time and we used to live inside the Post Office, signed on the document favouring accession with Pakistan and his four collogues including Ghulam Muhammad Shah of Bijbehra and Jagan Nath Rayess. My late father unfurled the Pakistani flag on the top of the Post Office but the goons of National Conference which include Abdul Ahad Tak of Anantnag town made an assault on my father and his colleagues, beat them to pulp and put down the Pakistani flag. They also tried to set the Post Office on fire.

Q6) Many Kashmiris often refer to Sheikh Abdullah as 'Gaddar' or traitor. How do you view him?

A:- Well, It is easy to be wise after the event. Sheikh Abdullah should have not done the "Ilhaq" or accession with India . He did a very serious blunder for the reason that kashmiri people are suffering a lot. Sadly Sheikh Abdullah had no political vision. Prem Nath Bazaz observed that Sheikh Abdullah had no sense of history and he had never read any history on Kashmir . So one can understand the level of political maturity and sincerity of Sheikh Abdullah.

Q7) The Pandit argument is that Kashmir has always been part of India ?

A:- Kashmir has never been part of India and has no cultural, traditional, ethical and religious semblance with India . Even we Kashmiri Pundits have totally different religious ceremonial and ritual days than of the Indian Hindus and we practice a different mythology. We have no religious attachment with river Ganga ; we used to put the ashes of the dead into the "Naraan Nag Gangbal" near Sonamarg. We never celebrate Diwali but "Hearath". We celebrate a religious day which is called "Sheshar Shenkraat" which is celebrated in the winters in order to avoid demonic influence in winters and there is no example of celebrating such a day in the Indian Hindu mythology. Moreover, Kashmiri Pundits celebrate "Shiv Raatri" differently than Indian Hindus; we prepare a lot of non vegetarian food to break the fast, contrary to Hindus who abstain from meat on the day. Similarly Kashmiri Muslims have a different culture with no relevance with that of Indian culture. Politically, the UN resolutions stand witness to the Kashmir dispute and promises the right to self determination. Had Kashmir not been a disputed state then why Kashmir has its own constitution and flag. And why Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the United Nations. It was only because of Indian political prejudice and insincerity that autonomy of Kashmir was eroded.

Q 8) How would you see the contours of its resolution?

A:- Well, Kashmir is a much political issue than a religious one. Kashmir has suffered because of a historical political mistake so the key to its resolution is strong political struggle which is possible only when we have strong political institutions with sincere leaders having unanimity on the common Kashmir cause. So far we have failed on diplomatic and international level only because of the poor and corrupt leadership. It is imperative to coordinate the political groups and bring them under one banner and one single leader. I would suggest Sayed Ali Shah Geelani who has shown strength and resilience while others change their cloaks often. But there has to be inclusion of Pandits in the political leadership.

STOP EXCESSES IN KASHMIR: PAK TO INDIA

Islamabad, Aug 14: Pakistan prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday asked India to stop “human rights excesses” in Kashmir.


“We want to resolve all problems with India through talks. The biggest problem between Pakistan and India is the problem of Jammu and Kashmir,” Gilani said in a televised address to the nation on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day.

“In pursuance of our objective of a peaceful and stable neighbourhood and for resolving outstanding disputes with India, we firmly believe that dialogue is the only way forward,” he said.

Pakistan will continue advocating a strategic restraint regime for lasting peace and stability in South Asia, he said.

Gilani asked India to stop, “human rights excesses” in Kashmir. India should “seriously take forward the talks process to solve this important issue,” he said as he outlined the contours of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

Gilani said dialogue is the “only way forward” for Pakistan and India to resolve their outstanding problems and to usher in peace and stability in South Asia. “In pursuance of our objective of a peaceful and stable neighbourhood and for resolving outstanding disputes with India, we firmly believe that dialogue is the only way forward,” he said.

Pakistan will continue advocating a strategic restraint regime for lasting peace and stability in South Asia, he said.

At the same time, Gilani made it clear that Pakistan has “legitimate stakes” in Afghanistan and efforts to achieve peace in that war-torn country.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan face a common set of challenges and we have a legitimate stakes in Afghanistan’s peace, stability and development. We will continue to support an Afghan-led process of reconciliation and reintegration,” he said.

Elaborating on the country’s foreign policy, Gilani said its central point is the protection and promotion of Pakistan’s interests at the regional and global levels.

Gilani also described Pakistan’s “all-weather friendship” with China as the cornerstone of the foreign policy.

Pakistan also gives “great importance” to its ties with the US and both countries are conducting a strategic dialogue to boost bilateral relations, he said.

With bullet in chest,Irshad refused to break fast

Islamabad, Aug 14: Irshad Ahmad Latoo (35) son of late Abdul Gaffar Latoo was waiting for Iftaar (to break fast) outside his home when a bullet hit his chest.


“Although he was offered water by attendants near him Irshad refused saying that he is fasting and cannot break his fast before the stipulated time. Alas! He never heard the call for Iftaar and died just minutes before breaking the fast,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir.

Irshad,an employee in Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, according to his neighbours was toiling hard to get his both ends meet and got married 2 years back.He has a 9 month old baby.

Though Irshad was himself orphaned at an early age but would have never even in his worst of dreams thought that his newly born baby would end with the same fate.

COPS BEAT PEOPLE INSIDE HAZRATBAL SHRINE

Srinagar, Aug 14: At least 30 people sustained injuries when police beat up peaceful protesters who were shouting pro-freedom slogans from inside the Hazratbal shrine here on Saturday. Police also resorted to firing and allegedly broke the windowpanes of Kashmir’s biggest shrine, triggering a pandemonium within and outside it.


The trouble erupted at 1.15 pm when police and paramilitary CRPF barred people from offering the congregational afternoon prayers in the shrine. Irked by the halt, the protesters broke the police cordon and offered prayers inside the shrine.

As they went in, they started shouting pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans. After the prayers—which were offered with loudspeakers off—ended, people switched on the loudspeakers and again shouted pro-freedom slogans. This is for the first time in the past several years that pro-freedom slogans have reverberated from inside the shrine, manned by Muslim Waqf Board.

The sloganeering continued for at least three hours, forcing the cops and CRPF men to flee from the spot, temporarily.

While everything seemed peaceful for a moment, witnesses said fresh trouble erupted inside the shrine when protesters saw an official of police or CID filming the scene.

This, they said, infuriated the youth who forced the official to flee. “Within a second, the armed police manning the shrine barged inside the shrine and started beating the protesters ruthlessly,” said an eyewitness. The “intense police lathi-charge” in and outside the shrine caused injuries to many protesters, some of whom are stated to be critical.

Eyewitnesses alleged the police broke the windowpanes of the shrine. The broken glasses also caused injuries to some of the protesters after they attempt to escape police beating.

In the meantime, witnesses said police fired upon the protesters once they tried to move out of the shrine. Police however said they resorted to aerial firing.

“We were watching the firing incident from a distance. We tried to move inside the shrine to see if our kin are alright, but policemen beat us up ruthlessly,” said a group of women, who said at least 12 women were wounded in the police action. “Some of the protesters, including kids, were roughed up badly and dragged outside the shrine.”

Reports said three women sustained critical injuries when policemen beat them up ruthlessly, while a Deputy Superintendent of police was also wounded in the scuffle.

The injured were rushed to SK Institute of Medical Sciences and Bone and Joint Hospital.

Curfew was immediately re-imposed in the area, forcing people to offer prayers within their vicinities. Reports said police closed the gates of the shrine in a bid to prevent them from offering prayers inside.

The Superintendent of Police (Hazratbal), Maqsood-uz-Zaman, alleged the protesters attacked the Hazratbal police post. “It was only after this attack that the armed companies manning the shrine opened fire in air. I am sure no one has received any bullet injury. Police tried to disperse the mob outside the shrine. Inside, police only requested the protesters to end the protests,” he told Greater Kashmir.

INDIAN TERRORISTS IN UNIFORM HAVE DONE HAVOC IN KASHMIR

Thursday, August 5, 2010

INDIAN TERRORISTS IN UNIFORM HAVE DONE HAVOC IN KASHMIR

Kashmir is a region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The term Kashmir historically described the valley just to the south of the westernmost end of the Hamalayan range. Politically, however, the term 'Kashmir' describes a much larger area which includes the regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The main "Vale of Kashmir" is relatively low and very fertile, surrounded by magnificent mountains and fed by many mountain streams flowing from adjoining valleys. It is renowned as one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the world.

Srinagar, the ancient capital, lies alongside Dal Lake (which is itself connected to a number of other lakes) and is famous for its canals and houseboats. Srinigar (alt. 1,600 m. or 5,200 ft.) acted as a favoured summer capital for many foreign conquerors who found the heat of the north Indian plains in summer oppressive. Just outside the city are found the beautiful Shalimar gardens created by Jehangir, the Mughal emperor, in 1619.

The region is currently divided amongst three countries: Pakistan controls the northwest portion (Northern Areas and Azad Kshmir) (India calls these areas "Pakistan occupied Kashmir” (PoK)), India controls the central and southern portion Jammu and Kashmir.

Disputed state in the north of India, area 139,000 SqKm (53,700 SqMi), population 6 million (1981). The state is bounded to the west by Pakistan and the 1971-72 Line-of-Control which separates it from Azad Kashmir; in the east by Ladakh, Tibet and Aksian Chin. Numerous rivers including Indus, Zanskar, Suru, Nubra and Shyok drain the state.

The state was governed by a bicameral state government of 36 member Legislative Council and 76 member Legislative Assembly. Dr Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference party led the last government. However, in 1990, the government was dissolved and the state placed in the direct control of the state governor. There were no elections since 1990 and the state remained in the control of the governor under the Indian regime. However, election were held in 1996 when through rigging and paramilitary pressure, India was able to implement a puppet state government headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah of the National Coneference. All Pro-Freedom parties were banned from these elections and their leaders placed under custody during the polling.

And the People’s Republic of China has occupied the northeastern portion (Aksai Chin). Though these regions are in practice administered by their respective claimants, India has never formally recognized the accession of the areas claimed by Pakistan and China. Pakistan views the entire Kashmir region as disputed territory, and does not consider India's claim to it to be valid.

Kashmir is one of the world's most well-known territorial disputes, and most Western made maps use a dotted-line to indicate the territory's uncertain boundaries.

Crimes of the Indian occupation forces

The Crimes of the Indian occupation forces, numbering more than half a million, against the people of Kashmir have now reached genocidal proportions, presenting the worst example of state-sponsored terrorism. Because, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were pledged by no less an authority than the UN Security Council to exercise their right to decide their future under conditions free from coercion and intimidation. However, the peaceful movement of the Kashmiri people for the realization of this right and the respect for their fundamental human rights has been crushed with brute force.

Since October 1989, some 38,000 Kashmiris have been killed by the Indian occupation forces, over 5000 women (young and old) have been raped, thousands have been maimed and thousands have been thrown in jail without any recourse to legal action. Torture, extrajudicial executions, disappearances, willful destruction of property and forced displacement are the order of the day. Kashmiris, despite a virtual media blackout, have been trying to bring these horrors to the attention of the international community.

Security forces have also repeatedly raided hospitals and other medical facilities, even pediatric and obstetric hospitals. During these raids, the security personnel have forced doctors at a gunpoint to identify recent trauma patients. Because of their injuries, the security forces have suspected these patients of militant activity. Injured patients have been arrested from hospitals, in some cases after being disconnected from life-sustaining treatments.

Methods of torture include severe beatings, electric shock, suspension by the feet or hands, stretching the legs apart, burning with heated objects and sexual molestation. One common form of torture involves crushing the leg muscles with a heavy wooden roller. [a] This practice results in the release of toxins from the damaged muscles that may cause acute renal (kidney) failure. This report documents a number of such cases which required dialysis. Since 1990, doctors in Kashmir have documented 37 cases of torture-related acute renal failure; in three cases the victims died.

Rapes: On 23 February 1991, a particularly serious incident occurred in the mountain village of Kunan Poshpura. More that 800 soldiers of the 4th Rajput Regiment surrounded the village. They rounded up the men outside and then broke into houses in search of arms. between 23 and 60 women were raped in the course of that night.

We were able to identify seven cases of rape and one case of sexual molestation, where no sexual act occurred. The victims come from several villages in the Kashmir valley. One of these cases took place very recently (in 1993), while the others occurred in 1991-2.

It cannot be said that the rape of Muslim women is a systematic or generalised practice. It is only carried out by the Indian security forces (there is no case of rape committed by either the police or by non-Muslim civilians). Rape is sometimes linked to pure acts of vengeance for colleagues killed or wounded by the militants.

Human rights violations : Human rights violations have risen dramatically in Jammu and Kashmir since late 1989, the start of the campaign for secession or for the state to join Pakistan. Many thousands of Kashmiris are arbitrarily detained under special laws that lack vital legal safeguards and provide the security forces with sweeping powers to arrest and detain. They are held for months or years without charge or trial. Torture by the security forces is a daily routine and so brutal that hundreds have died in custody as a result. Scores of women claim that they have been raped. Efforts by relatives to use legal avenues to obtain redress have been persistently frustrated: court orders to protect detainees are routinely flouted and the legal machinery in the state has broken down. A judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court said in October 1994 that the rule of law in the state had ceased to exist. 7

Initially, the authorities made hardly any efforts to disguise deaths in custody. The disfigured bodies of the victims were simply dumped on roads or in rivers, or were returned to the police or relatives. More recently, the government has sought to cover up such killings by attributing them to "encounters" between militants and the security forces, or claiming that the victims died in cross-fire. However, the government has consistently failed to provide any evidence to support its version of events, and in many cases there is incontrovertible evidence -- including from medical reports and the police -- that the victims died in the custody of the security forces.

Kashmir’s demand : The Kashmir’s' demand is very simple. They want to be free of military occupation and to decide their future by a democratic vote, impartially supervised. A mechanism for the exercise of this right has already been defined by the United Nations Security Council, which was not only supported by Canada but co-sponsored, too. This mechanism needs to be activated and implemented.

Panchaltan-Pathribal killings : Coming on the heels of the Chattisinghpora killings, the Panchaltan-Pathribal killings drove another nail in the coffin of Indian Government’s credibility. On 25 March 2000, the Special Task Force (STF) apprehended Yaqoob Wagey, a young milkman who lived in neary Muslim enclave of the Chattisinghpora, and a day later, allegedly on his tip-off, killed five ‘militants’ responsible of the Chattisinghpora massacre. It was a joint operation by the Army and the Special Operations Group. The bodies were mutilated and burnt, and the dead were declared as ‘Pakistanis’.

Human Rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir

Murder of Jalil Andrabi : On 27 March 1996, Jalil Andrabi, a prominent Kashmiri lawyer and human rights activist was found tortured and shot to death in Srinagar. Members of the Rashtriya Rifles had earlier taken him into detention. Andrabi’s murders are still at large.

Chattisinghpora killings of March 2000 : On March 20, 2002 on the eve of US President Clinton’s visit to India, 36 Sikh men were shot dead in Chattisinghpora (Anantnag district) in IOK by unidentified gunmen reportedly dressed in army uniforms. The Government of India was quick to point fingers at Pakistan at that time but later vehemently resisted judicial inquiry into the killings.

After persistent protests by the locals, and after the killings of several demonstrator in Brakpora on 3 April, the state government agreed to the exhumation of the bodies. The exhumation was carried out on 6 April and confirmed the worst fears of the relatives of those killed: all the dead were innocent civilians, kidnapped by Indian security forces and murdered in cold blood. This was confirmed not only by the Indian authorities but also by the US State Department Report on Human Rights Practices – 2000 (country Report on India).

Fudging of DNA Results : The Indian newspapers reported that the government of J&K fudged DNA samples taken from relatives of five alleged terrorists killed in a joint police-Army operation in March 2000 (the Chittisinghpora massacre) to avoid allegations of having murdered innocent civilians in a fake encounter.

Brakpora killings : On 3 April 2000, nine days after the Pathribal-Panchaltan killings, a procession of several thousand Kashmiri demonstrators marched on Anantnag, intending to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding the exhumation of the bodies of the five men killed on 25 March. At Brakpora, three kilometers from Anantnag the Special Operations Group (SOG) forces opened fire on them, killing seven and injuring fifteen. The puppet Chief Minister of Occupied Kashmir Farooq Abdullah was forced to admit that the firing was unprovoked.

Charar Sharif shrine Incident of 8 June 2001 : On 8 June 2001, an unidentified attacker threw a hand grenade at a group of women gathered around the Charar Sharif shrine, killing six and injuring scores of others. According to eyewitness accounts published by a large number of Indian dailies the J&K police was responsible for the blast.

On 8 August 2001 the Government of India decided to extend to the Jammu region its so-called Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1990). The black law, which has been applied to the Kashmir Valley for over a decade gives license to the Indian Security Forces to arrest detain shoot and kill people at will, International human rights organizations have condemned the Indian government’s decision.

Promulgation of POTA : India has promulgated a more stringent version of the infamous “Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) in order to invest its Security Forces and law enforcement agencies with draconian powers, especially targeted at the Indian Held Kashmir.

There has been a marked increase in custodial killings and deaths in fake encounters in IOK in recent months. The promulgation of Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), a stronger version of the infamous Terrorism And Disruptive Activities (Preventive)Act (TADA), has further emboldened the Indian security forces to continue their ruthless suppression of the innocent Kashmiri people.

During the year 2001 alone, 4,677 Kashmiris were killed: 519 women were molested 871 widowed and 2,395 children were orphaned. 1,988 shops and houses were burnt by Indian Security Forces.

Do you think kashmir solution is most important issue in india??