National
Voicing Their Anger : Kashmiri Pandits Take Out March Demand Justice For Rahul Bhat; Slam Administration
Picture : Twitter / ANI
The busy Lal Chowk city centre on Saturday reverberated with slogans like ‘We want justice’ and ‘Administration haye haye’ (down with administration) as scores of Kashmiri Pandits took out a protest march against the killing of Rahul Bhat, officials said.
Centre has all along claimed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir are normal but ground reality clearly proves otherwise.
The members of the community assembled near Bund in Lal Mandi area of the city and held a puja in the Jhelum river for Bhat, who was shot dead by terrorists inside the Tehsil office in Budgam district’s Chadoora town on May 12.
J&K | Kashmiri Pandits protested in Vessu Colony Qazigund, Anantnag today and tonsured their heads in memory of govt employee Rahul Bhat who was shot dead by terrorists on May 12th. pic.twitter.com/rD5JSEADCr
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2022
Soon after the puja culminated, the protesters began a march towards Lal Chowk. After reaching Lal Chowk, the protesters held a sit-in near the famous clock tower.
People from minorities, police personnel & civilians are being targeted & killed. We were told Article 370 was reason for separatist mentality. 2.5 yrs have passed, situation is yet to improve. Militancy has revived in areas where we eradicated it, Omar Abdullah, National Conference vice= president and former J&K Chief Minister was quoted as saying by ANI
The protesters demanded justice for Bhat and raised slogans against the administration. They also demanded strict action against the killers of Bhat and the authorities in Budgam.
The protesters also demanded that Kashmiri Pandits employees who got jobs under the prime minister’s package be relocated.
Protests have been held at several places in Jammu and Kashmir over the killing of Bhat as well as the ‘failure’ of the administration to provide security to Kashmiri Pandit employees.
Bhat had got the job of a clerk under the special employment package for migrants in 2010-11.
Recent killing of Rahul Bhat is unfortunate. SIT formed. We shall look at report once it is in. All residents of J&K have right to be safe. Though it has been peaceful overall, some incidents did happen. We are forming strategy to fight this, Lieutenant Gov J&K, Manoj Sinha was quoted as saying by ANI
