Anger, fear in communities as Kashmir simmers after killings

The majority Muslim community in Kashmir, along with those families of Kashmir pandits who have been living together for the past so many years, are angry and have fears both for their own reasons. While the Kashmiri pandits who have been living here have said that they will not migrate after being persuaded by their Muslim neighbors not to do so, the Muslims here are angry with the government and media for not giving any space or probe to the alleged two fake encounters in which two civilians were killed.

- NOOR-UL-QAMRAIN

“Fault lines are now visible in Kashmir valley as there is silence from media, government and all those social media platforms that were very active in the recent past after the killing of five non-Muslim civilians here,” said a senior journalist on the condition of anonymity, as he was recently summoned by police for writing what they termed “provocative stories” from Srinagar.

While the Kashmiri pandits and Hindus living here have said that they will not migrate while appealing to the Muslim community to pray for their safety in the masjids, the Muslim community of Kashmir has also shown solidarity with them, but have a lot of anger against the central government, J&K administration and police.

In many masjids of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir, Muslims responded and said that Kashmiri pandits were part and parcel of the society and should not leave their homes. It has its context in the recent two alleged civilian killings at the hands of security forces. First was a nomad family’s only bread earner Parvaiz Ahmad, who left a pregnant wife, small children and parents, along with other members of the family.