Jammu: The targeted killings in Kashmir by militants have forced 10 Kashmiri Pandit families in south Kashmir to migrate to Jammu out of fear.
In Shopian’s Choudharygund, residents said the recent militant attacks have triggered a fear psychosis among the Pandits who lived in Kashmir through the most difficult period of militancy in 1990s and did not leave their homes.
Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat was gunned down by militants outside his ancestral house in Choudharygund village of Shopian district on October 15. On October 18, Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar were killed in a grenade attack by militants while they were asleep in their rented accommodation in Shopian.
“Ten families comprising 35 to 40 Kashmiri Pandits have migrated out of our village due to the fear of psychosis,” said a resident of Choudharygund village who faced a death threat recently.
He said the village was now empty.
“The situation is not conducive for us to live in the Kashmir valley. We live in fear due to the killings. There is no security for us,” another villager said.
The villagers alleged a police post was set up away from their village even though they repeatedly sought protection.
They said they have left everything in their houses, even the recent harvest of apple.
Those who have reached Jammu are living with their relatives. PTI

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Press Trust of India