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    On Targeted Killings in Kashmir: July 2022

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    m ameen
    The document discusses targeted killings in Kashmir, particularly of minority communities like Kashmiri Pandits and non-Kashmiri Hindus. It notes a series of killings in recent months that have increased fears, with Kashmiri Pandit employees and Dalit workers now protesting and demanding relocation outside the valley for safety. While the government promises more security, some experts argue a solely security-focused approach is insufficient and political and social engagement is also needed to address the root causes of militancy and alienation in Kashmir.

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    On Targeted Killings in Kashmir: July 2022

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    m ameen
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    The document discusses targeted killings in Kashmir, particularly of minority communities like Kashmiri Pandits and non-Kashmiri Hindus. It notes a series of killings in recent months that have increased fears, with Kashmiri Pandit employees and Dalit workers now protesting and demanding relocation outside the valley for safety. While the government promises more security, some experts argue a solely security-focused approach is insufficient and political and social engagement is also needed to address the root causes of militancy and alienation in Kashmir.

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    ED_LVII_24_110622_OnTargetedKillingsinKashmir

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    The document discusses targeted killings in Kashmir, particularly of minority communities like Kashmiri Pandits and non-Kashmiri Hindus. It notes a series of killings in recent months that have increased fears, with Kashmiri Pandit employees and Dalit workers now protesting and demanding relocation outside the valley for safety. While the government promises more security, some experts argue a solely security-focused approach is insufficient and political and social engagement is also needed to address the root causes of militancy and alienation in Kashmir.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    18 views2 pages

    On Targeted Killings in Kashmir: July 2022

    Uploaded by

    m ameen
    The document discusses targeted killings in Kashmir, particularly of minority communities like Kashmiri Pandits and non-Kashmiri Hindus. It notes a series of killings in recent months that have increased fears, with Kashmiri Pandit employees and Dalit workers now protesting and demanding relocation outside the valley for safety. While the government promises more security, some experts argue a solely security-focused approach is insufficient and political and social engagement is also needed to address the root causes of militancy and alienation in Kashmir.

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    On Targeted Killings in Kashmir

    Article · July 2022

    CITATIONS READS

    0 22

    1 author:

    Rekha Chowdhary
    University of Jammu
    33 PUBLICATIONS   35 CITATIONS   

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    COMMENT

    On Targeted Killings in Kashmir


    The violence against minority communities in Kashmir requires a multipronged solution.
    Rekha Chowdhary writes:

    T
    he recent target killings by militants have highlighted In a situation where the militants are clearly targeting the
    the vulnerability of minorities in Kashmir. Though the minorities along with other vulnerable targets, the Pandits are
    range of target killings that have been taking place during expressing their disillusionment with the BJP government. They
    the last two and a half years has included a number of Kashmiri feel that they are sitting ducks and can be targeted at any time.
    Muslims, it is the killing of people belonging to the minority They have even petitioned to the Chief Justice of the Supreme
    communities, including the Kashmiri Pandits and non-Kashmiri Court. Invoking the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitu-
    Hindus, that has unnerved the members of these communities. tion, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Committee has sought the
    Although there were some target killings months after the relocation of Kashmiri Pandit employees outside Kashmir.
    abrogation of the special constitutional status of the state, Ironically, the issue of targeted killings has arisen at a time
    including those of two prominent non-Kashmiri Hindus, it was when the government was projecting its achievements follow-
    in October 2021 that the impact of target killings was felt when, ing the abrogation of the special constitutional status of Jammu
    within a matter of days, there were a series of gruesome killings and Kashmir. It had been pointing out the success of its decision
    (for example, of a well-known Kashmiri Pandit pharmacist who with no local retaliation in any manner and almost a near total
    had stayed on in Kashmir throughout the period of militancy; a absence of protests and stone-pelting incidents. With separa-
    street vendor from Bihar and a native Sikh female teacher; and tism handled with a tough approach, it was proclaiming a nor-
    a teacher from Jammu and four non-local labourers). It was, malcy in the valley. The record tourist presence in Kashmir was
    however, with the killing of Rahul Bhat, a revenue employee, in highlighted as the biggest symbol of normalcy.
    his office in May 2022 that target killings came to be highlighted The phenomenon of targeted killings not only seems to have
    once again. From 1 May to 2 June, a total of nine target killings punctured this claim but has also raised questions about the re-
    took place. (If one counts from March 2022, then the number of vival of militancy and the dangerous form that it has acquired.
    such killings adds up to 19.) Though small in number, the Pakistan-based foreign militants
    It is the reverberation such targeted killings have been gener- and the local recruits have kept the militancy alive, and with
    ating that the situation in Kashmir is being compared to that of targeted killings, they have succeeded in creating a fear psycho-
    1990 when the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits took place. The sis. What is worrying is not only the fact that the new militants
    Kashmiri Pandit employees (numbering as many as 4,000) who are anonymous, having no prior history or criminal record and
    have been located in Kashmir under the Prime Minister’s reha- therefore difficult to trace before committing a militant act, but
    bilitation and return schemes and have been living there for as also the fact that even when they are being eliminated almost
    many as 10 to 12 years are now protesting—demanding their on an everyday basis, they are being replaced by new militants
    relocation outside the valley or alternatively threatening mass instantly. The continued availability of these militants clearly
    migration. Apart from these, there are Dalit employees (num- shows that despite the political silence of Kashmiris and the
    bering around 3,000)—who have been employed under the 8% near total absence of protests, not everything is fine in Kashmir.
    reservation of Scheduled Caste quota in each district of Kash- The revival of militancy and continued local recruitment as
    mir—who are also protesting and demanding their relocation. well as the target killings indicate the disenchantment and radi-
    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which has calisation at some level.
    been questioning the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and The present situation has exposed the faultiness in the gov-
    blaming the Congress government and local politicians like ernment’s approach to deal with the Kashmir situation. With only
    Farooq Abdullah for failing to protect the Hindu minorities in security and administrative apparatuses being functional and
    the face of “Islamic jihad,” finds itself in a bind in this situation. the political forces being marginalised, doubts are being expressed
    While making it as a big issue on its agenda, the government if the security approach to deal with this intricate situation is
    has been reiterating its commitment to provide justice to the sufficient. The veteran security experts who have dealt with the
    Pandits in Kashmir. It has not only been talking of rehabilitating situation in the field like Lieutenant Generals Syed Ata Hasnain
    the Pandits to the valley but also of redressing their property- and D S Hooda, while accepting the need of hard security
    related issues linked with distress sale and encroachment. measures, have suggested going beyond the security perspective.
    In no way, therefore, it can agree to relocate the protesting While Hasnain has suggested activating the social and political
    Pandits outside the valley. In its own perspective, posting them domains, Hooda has argued for a holistic approach involving
    out of Kashmir would amount to accepting failure of the policy addressing a sense of alienation, youth engagement, and streng-
    of rehabilitation and also contribute to “ethnic cleansing.” It is thening civil society and political empowerment.
    therefore responding by promising more security and surveil-
    lance, intensifying counter-insurgency operations, and relocat- Rekha Chowdhary (rekchowdhary@gmail.com) is a fellow at the Indian
    ing the employees to safer places within Kashmir. Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.

    8 JUNE 11, 2022 vol lViI no 24 EPW Economic & Political Weekly

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