Day after his killing, Kashmiri Pandit cremated in Jammu

The Valley started witnessing a new wave of attacks mainly targeting migrant workers after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Militants started targeting Kashmiri Pandits from last year with the killing of prominent businessman M L Bindroo who was shot at his medical store in Srinagar in October. Since then, Puran Bhat is the fourth Kashmiri Pandit to be killed. On May 12 this year, militants shot Rahul Bhat inside the revenue office where he worked in Budgam. On August 18, militants killed Sunil Kumar and injured Paitamber Kumar inside an orchard in Shopian.

The killing of Rahul Bhat, who was appointed under the Prime Minister’s Relief and Rehabilitation Package for Kashmiri Pandits, triggered largescale protests from employees under the scheme who demanded a transfer to Jammu. The attacks also prompted administration to shift several employees to relatively safer locations.

A Kashmiri Pandit employees’ leader, Rubon Saproo, said that despite the protests, the Divisional Commissioner has made biometric attendance of staff necessary in all offices in Kashmir. Employees have also been getting notices, asking them to resume duties immediately. For instance, notices issued by District Social Welfare Officer, Anantnag, dated October 10, 2022, asked those employed under the PM’s Relief and Rehabilitation Package to “immediately register your details on the biometric attendance system” in view of the directions issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. Apart from this, they have also been directed to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.

Even non-Kashmiri Pandit Hindus from Jammu, who had been employed in Kashmir during normal recruitment drives by State Services Recruitment Board have also returned to Jammu following the killing of a school teacher, Rajni Bala, by militants in May. They are also on dharna in Jammu since then demanding their relocation.

Sensing the mood, senior BJP leaders stayed away from attending Bhat’s cremation.

Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, and various other senior officials visited Bhat’s family and assured them assistance.

The Congress and the AAP held separate demonstrations in protest against the UT administration’s failure to check targeted killings by militants in the Valley.

Bhat was among the few Kashmiri Pandits who stayed back in the Valley even during the peak militancy period. Bhat, who owned an apple orchard in Shopian, returned just 15-20 days ago after spending nearly a month with his family in Jammu. He is survived by his wife Sweety, 41, daughter Shreya, 11, and son Shanu, 8. The apple orchard is the family’s only source of livelihood.