Kashmiri Pandits' Body Approaches High Court Seeking Relocation From Valley, Says Govt Failed To Protect Lives Of Religious Minorities

The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS), an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, has moved a letter petition before the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, stating that the religious minorities in the valley are under direct threat from terrorists and must be relocated to safer locations outside.The KPSS is a group of 808 families living in 272 villages of Kashmir which didn't leave the Kashmir Valley even after the height of the militancy in the 1990s. It is headed by a Kashmiri Pandit activist Sanjay Tickoo. In its petition, KPSS has deprecated the alleged insensitivity of the government in not allowing them to leave the valley despite the escalation of violence against their community. The petitioners also allege that the Union Territory administration and the Central government failed to secure the life of Religious minorities staying in Kashmir Valley. The petitioners add that nearly twelve attacks have been carried out on the local religious minorities living in the Valley apart from those who came to Kashmir to earn their bread and butter. The petitioner in its plea also avers that apart from the targeted killings, a number of threat posters and letters were issued by the militant organization operating in Kashmir Valley in which it has been clearly warned that they will kill religious minorities, specifically Kashmiri Pandits / Hindus who are living in the Valley. Drawing the attention of the court, the petitioners further state that the alleged targeted killings have caused more fear and panic among them and alleges that the Government failed to protect their lives. The petition further states: "That there is a clear violation of the Right to life which is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India as on the one hand, UT / Central Administration fail to protect the lives of the religious minorities and on the other hand does not let them leave Kashmir Valley so that they can protect their respective lives." Praying for the court's intervention in this grave issue, the body has also appealed to the court to summon all the concerned officers/officials to explain what sort of policy and mechanism they have derived for the protection of the minority community. Lastly, the petitioner body has prayed for a direction from the court to investigate all the targeted killings which happened since June 8, 2020 and to suspend the officers responsible for alleged lapses. It is also urged that an SIT be constituted to submit its report within stipulated time monitored by the High Court The matter is slated for hearing on 4 July 2022.

Kashmiri Pandits' Body Approaches High Court Seeking Relocation From Valley, Says Govt Failed To Protect Lives Of Religious Minorities

Basit Amin Makhdoomi

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