Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29: Various Kashmiri Pandit organisations have expressed serious concern over mysterious fire in which four houses of Kashmiri Pandits and a Kothar burnt down in Mattan town of Anantnag district late last night.
Former MLC and BJP spokesperson, Girdhari Lal Raina said burning down to ashes of these houses in this historical complex is heart breaking.
This painful fire incident needs to be probed thoroughly, the BJP leader demanded. He stressed that the investigation is not required just because the houses belong to the minority KP community. It is needed to find culprits and identify forces behind them. It is not an ordinary fire incident, he cautioned. It most probably is a sinister design to discourage the displaced community from entertaining dreams of return to the land of their origin.
Ex-MLC recalled that media reports have indicated over years that several Kashmiri Pandit families in this area have come back or were planning to return back to their own places. These houses which were in dilapidated condition for years were finally visibly being repaired, renovated and reconstructed. This prospect of the return has manifestly offended forces inimical to peaceful co-existence, he said. Raina said that this fire incident is being seen as a strong rebuttal and potent message to the displaced community volunteering return to their roots.
Smelling a rat Kashmiri Pandit Conference ( KPC ) demanded a high level probe into the incident saying the five houses at Razdan Mohalla Mattan were heritage buildings which were one century old. He said all the houses were pucca with one building was of four storeys.
He said it was a heritage building and people used to come to see its architecture.
Kashmiri said that some days back one house owner had started renovation of his house and he was about to start the work that entire complex got razed to ground under mysterious circumstances.
Kashmiri said he apprehends a foul play and the Government should get the entire matter probed though a high level Committee. When the housing complex remained intact in 34 years of turmoil and the situation had improved in Valley how it caught fire is a matter of investigation.
He also demanded adequate compensation to owners of these houses.
He said the incident has shaken the confidence of the entire community who sees the chances of their return to their homeland totally bleak under prevailing circumstances.
Former Sarpanch Rakesh Kumar and Ashok Dhar socio political activist has also expressed their concern over the fire incident and demanded a thorough probe into the matter
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