2003 Nadimarg massacre

2003 Nadimarg massacre was killing of 24 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits in the village of Nadimarg in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants on 23 March 2003.[1][2][3]

Part of a series on
Violence against Hindus
in independent India
Issues
Incidents

Background

In 1990, 300,000 to 600,000 Kashmiri Hindus left Kashmir after being selectively targeted by the Islamic militants.[4]

The attack

The armed militants came dressed in counterfeit military uniforms.[5] The attack took place between 11 pm and midnight.[6] Victims included 11 men, 11 women, and two small boys who were lined up and shot and killed by the gunmen.[7][8] The victims ranged from a 65-year-old man to a 2-year-old boy.[2] On night of 23 March 2003 the terrorists entered at Nadimarg village near Shopian in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir and dragged the Hindus out from their homes, lined them and shot them from automatic weapons. At least 24 Hindus including 11 women and 2 children were killed. The policemen posted there fled the scene. The killers allegedly disfigured the bodies of the victims, looted their houses and took away the ornaments from bodies of the dead women.

The aftermath

Three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants suspected to be responsible for this massacre were gunned down by Mumbai police on 29 March.[9] Another Lashkar-e-Taiba Militant suspected of participating in the massacre was arrested in April 2003.[10] Christina Rocca then US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia argued for the need for US to remain "actively and effectively engaged", pointing out to this massacre.[11] In an editorial in Pakistan's Dawn, Kunwar Idris criticised the massacre and said "Pundits are children of no lesser god that two hundred thousand of them should be driven out of their homes and the remaining few should be left to die a gruesome death."[12] Chris Patten European Commissioner for External Relations and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan also condemned the massacre.[13] India accused Pakistan of being involved in this massacre and said that it would deal with Pakistan with strength and resolve.[14] The police issued an arrest warrant in the Nadimarg massacre case, naming Zai Mustafa, alias Abdullah of Rawalkote, Pakistan.[15] Intercepts by the intelligence agencies point out that there was a possible involvement of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed groups which have been operating the Shupian area.

Then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed promised increased police protection however terror stricken few remaining Hindus decided to leave the area.

The US Ambassador to India Robert D. Blackwill condemned the massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and said Washington "look forward to the terrorists being brought to justice swiftly".

The US Secretary of State Powell and British foreign minister Straw issued a joint statement of 27 March 2003 and condemned the Nadimarg massacre, urged respect for the Line of Control, called on Pakistan to end infiltration across it and urged Pakistan to do its utmost to discourage acts of violence by militants in J&K.

References
  1. Kashmir killing stokes tension Archived 25 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Dawn, 25 March 2003
  2. Kashmir Massacre Shakes Village’s Sense of Fraternity Archived 28 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Los Angeles Times, 30 March 2003
  3. 24 Hindus Are Shot Dead in Kashmiri Village Archived 11 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, 24 March 2003
  4. Casimir, Michael J.; Lancaster, William; Rao, Aparna (1 June 1997). "Editorial". Nomadic Peoples. 1 (1): 3–4. doi:10.3167/082279497782384668. ISSN 0822-7942.
  5. Grief, Again Archived 20 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Time, 31 March 2003
  6. 24 Hindus killed in Indian Kashmir Archived 9 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Agence France-Presse, 24 March 2003
  7. Appendix A – Chronology of Significant International Terrorist Incidents, 2003 (Revised 6/22/04) , United States Department of State
  8. 24 Pandits killed in Kashmir Archived 7 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Rediff.com, 24 March 2003
  9. Suspected Nadimarg killers gunned down in Mumbai Archived 20 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Indian Express, 29 March 2003
  10. LeT militant involved in Nadimarg massacre held, The Times of India, 10 April 2003
  11. Atrocity heightens tensions in Kashmir Archived 25 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Independent, 30 March 2003
  12. The murder of Pundits Archived 25 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Dawn, 30 March 2003
  13. "Patten Offers Condolences After Kashmir Massacre". Archived from the original on 18 April 2003. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  14. India: Cross-Border Terrorism Infrastructure Must Be Dismantled, Voice of America, 26 March 2003
  15. 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report Archived 12 May 2009 at WebCite, The Indian Express, 5 May 2008

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