Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) President, Sanjay Tikoo, today said the fear that the minority community has been experiencing for the past week following civilian killings in the Valley has dissipated to a large extent.
He said that the Pandit community was living in fear because of a series of killings in Srinagar and Bandipora districts, which resulted in the deaths of around five people, including three Hindus and a Sikh woman.
“For the first four to five days, we were terrified. We were unable to sleep or enjoy our days in peace. However, for the past 4-5 days, positive news has been emerging. We are feeling relieved now and fear has subsided,” he said.
He said that families who had fled the Valley following a spate of civilian killings have started to return, claiming that “at least 4-5 families returned yesterday and it is good news.”
He said that several mosques in Srinagar had requested the public to refrain from any action that is likely to cause distress among the Kashmiri Pandits living in the community. “Few days back, I appealed all Masjids across Kashmir to extend support to the Pandits, and some Masjids in Srinagar have already done it. I am not sure about Masjids outside Srinagar, but they must also do it,” he said.
He said that Muslim neighbours visited the homes of pandits, which also helped to defuse the fear among both communities. “The neighbours, who are mostly Muslims, were requested to visit our homes so that fear on both sides is defused. They, too, were terrified by the situation. Such gestures will put an end to fear on both sides,” he said.
“People have begun to go about their daily lives as a result of these gestures. The fear that we had been experiencing for the past few days has subsided significantly. 60 per cent of the fear has gone, and I am confident that the remaining 40% will also go in the coming days,” he said.
While applauding the efforts of Grand Mufti Kashmir, Nasir Ul Islam, he said religious scholar has advised people to make the community feel secure in the Valley. “I am confident he will continue to do so in the days ahead,” he said.
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