Aastha Manocha
The Indian Express (Kashmir Live)
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New Delhi, June 23: Lest we forget. This seemed to be the underlying thought on World Refugee Day as Kashmiri Hindu organisations in various parts of the country held events and programmes to remember the Wandhama massacre that happened 10 years ago and whose file has been closed by the J&K police.
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Wandhama massacre refers to the worst massacre of Kashmiri Hindus, commonly known as the Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee Kashmir after selective killings of members of their community. Though a majority of them fled, some of the families chose to stay back. Wandhama massacre refers to the gunning down of 10 men, nine women and four children of four pandit families in village Wandhama in 1998 on the eve of Republic Day.
Wandhama massacre refers to the worst massacre of Kashmiri Hindus, commonly known as the Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee Kashmir after selective killings of members of their community. Though a majority of them fled, some of the families chose to stay back. Wandhama massacre refers to the gunning down of 10 men, nine women and four children of four pandit families in village Wandhama in 1998 on the eve of Republic Day.
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At a panel discussion in Delhi, Mukul Sharma, Head of Amnesty International, India, was bombarded with questions regarding the role of his agency in bringing retribution to the victims of the Wandhama massacre, he lamented the fact that the government had not let the UN special repertoire to investigate the situation in the valley, which continues to see human rights violations.
At a panel discussion in Delhi, Mukul Sharma, Head of Amnesty International, India, was bombarded with questions regarding the role of his agency in bringing retribution to the victims of the Wandhama massacre, he lamented the fact that the government had not let the UN special repertoire to investigate the situation in the valley, which continues to see human rights violations.
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-Gautam Kaul, former D-G of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, gave the viewpoint from the law enforcing and investigating agencies. While listing several measures that should have been taken by the state police, he said the closing down of the case has made it all the more easier for the perpetrators to evade justice as an open case can always be cross referenced with new findings. He also said that the closing down of a case of such magnitude could not have been done without political will.
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Asha Khosa, a senior journalist who has covered the Wandhama incident extensively, said that it was up to the civil society to make sure that such incidents do not remain forgotten.
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Tarun Vijay, former editor of the Panchjanya, predictably lamented the fact that the existence of Hinduism in the valley has now been forgotten.
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In Hyderabad, Kashmiri Pandits held an information dissemination event outside the CM’s camp office and handed the CM a letter requesting him to recommend the re-opening of Wandhama massacre inquiry by CBI, to the Central Government.
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In Pune too, a two day photo exhibition preceded by a press conference was organized to raise awareness about this massacre and to demand the reopening the case and a CBI investigation.
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Strange as it may seem, no one has even been arrested, said Rahul Kaul, a young activist.
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‘What is truly bizarre is the fact that the local police have closed the case citing non-traceability of the killers’.
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