1998 Prankote massacre

The 1998 Prankote massacre was the killing of 26 Hindus in the villages of Prankote and Dakikote in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on 17 April 1998.[1]

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The attack

Survivors said that the killers struck when the villagers refused demands from the terrorists to convert to Islam and prove their conversion by eating beef.[2][3] On refusal to convert, all the 26 people including women and children were beheaded.[1] Seven members were charred beyond recognition when their house was set on fire.[1]

Aftermath

It took 10 hours for news to reach the authorities and security forces reached only after a day.[4][5] Then Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said "This a shocking incident. I have seen tragedies earlier, but this was bloodcurdling. No bullets were fired, the villagers were butchered."[6]

The massacre forced migration of nearly 1,000 people to Reasi, Pouni Thanpal, Chasana and other towns of the district.[7]

In April 2008, the alleged mastermind Abdul Haque alias Jahangir, a militant belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen, was shot dead by Indian security forces.[8]

References
  1. "26 Hindu villagers butchered in Jammu". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. Pioneer, The. "Ignoring spirit of the law". The Pioneer. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. Burns, John F. (20 June 1998). "Gunmen Kill 25 Hindus in Kashmir Attacks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. "A new front in the proxy war". Frontline. Vol. 15 no. 13. 20 June – 3 July 1998. Archived from the original on 4 April 2002. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. Hired Gun Archived 22 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine, India Today, 4 May 1998
  6. "Kashmir Terrorists Behead 26 Hindus in Prankote". www.jammu-kashmir.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  7. "Jammu averages 50 killings a month". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  8. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.

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