Panic grips Choutigam’s Kashmiri Pandit families after militant attack

Three families forced to rethink decision to stay on in Kashmir

Panic has gripped three Kashmiri Pandit families in Shopian a day after militants shot at and injured a Pandit shopkeeper Bal Krishan near his shop.

The Pandit families, who had stayed on in the Valley and did not migrate in the 1990s, have maintained silence and refused to talk to the media for fear of retribution after the attack. “We are hopeful that locals will safeguard us, like in the past 30 years,” a minority member said, on the condition of anonymity.

A little-known outfit, the Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF), has claimed responsibility for the attack at Choutigam village of Shopian. “The cadre of the KFF shot and critically injured the Kashmiri Pandit. He was hand in glove with the BJP and was also involved in many immoral activities,” a KFF spokesman claimed.

The police have not, however, confirmed the veracity of the outfit’s claim. 

Officials said Mr Bal Krishan, who is in hospital, is stable. However, the incident has pushed the three remaining Pandit families to maintain a low profile in their own villages, in the face of back-to-back targeted attacks on civilians. 

Anil Bhat, the victim’s brother, rued the decision to stay back in Kashmir in 1990. “It was a mistake to stay back in Kashmir. We have stayed through the worst times here. Then yesterday, two people disembarked from a two-wheeler. One pulled off a pistol and fired at my brother in front of me. This is all about land and nothing else,” Mr. Bhat said.

Five people, including four non-local labourers and one Kashmiri Pandit, have been injured in militant attacks in Kashmir since Monday. In most cases, bullets were fired at the limbs and not the upper body, officials said.