Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits on Saturday protested at the Ghantaghar of the historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits are demanding their transfer after the killing of Rahul Bhat by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists 10 days ago. Yesterday, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits staged a sit-in march through the Lal Mandi area of Civil Lines, chanting ‘Om’ and carrying placards ‘Kabtak’.
During this, Kashmiri Pandits raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration and accused it of not listening to their demands. It is to be known that Bhatt (35), who got the job of a clerk under a special employment package for migrants in the year 2011-12, was killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists at his office located in Chadoora area of Budgam district of central Kashmir on May 12.
According to the rituals of Kashmiri Pandits, the 10th day marks the end of the mourning period. The protesters included men and women and they carried placards with the question ‘Kabtak(how long)?’. These protesters also carried placards demanding transfer or deputation of all migrant workers posted in the Valley to any other place in India to stop their bloodshed. Raising slogans against the administration, the Kashmiri Pandit employees said that till this administration does not listen to them, their protest will continue.
Before leaving the Lal Chowk area, the protesters collectively chanted Om and then marched to the BJP’s state office in the city’s Jawahar Nagar area. Where they raised slogans against the party. After this the protesters dispersed peacefully. Similar processions were taken out in Mattan area of South Kashmir against the Union Territory administration.
Faced with unseasonal rains, Kashmiri Pandit workers marched towards the famous Martand temple. Where some youth got their heads shaved according to the rituals of the 10th day of death. They raised slogans like ‘Rahul bhai amar rahe’ and demanded their transfer to safer places. Several protests have been held in Jammu and Kashmir over Bhatt’s killing as well as the administration’s failure to provide security to Kashmiri Pandit employees.