In yet another targeted killing of a Hindu civilian – a bank official, in Kashmir today shows that a well thought out plan of the Islamist terrorists and their handlers is in active mode for spilling blood of innocents for no fault of theirs.
The latest killing comes barely two days after a Hindu woman teacher, Rajni Bala, hailing from Samba district of Jammu province, was shot dead by terrorists at a government school in Gopalpora, Kulgam.
The spate of targeted killings started in May this year which included that of Rahul Bhat, a clerk, in an office in Chadoora. Of the eight targeted killings in Kashmir since May 1, three victims were off-duty policemen and five were civilians.
These gruesome killings has given a chilling reminder of the violent 1989-90 era of selective targeted killings and driven situation fear psychosis that led to the mass migration of Kashmiri Hindus leaving their home and hearth at the mercy of Almighty.
The point that needs an application of mind is – what was the fault of innocent men and women who fell to the bullets of the terrorists? How innocents' killings serve the objective of the terrorists except for showing their brutality, destroying families and disturbing peace? Yes, terrorists may succeed in creating fear among the minorities and other vulnerable sections of the society.
There is an argument that successful holding of panchayat, block development and district development council polls in recent years, grass roots level democracy has provided a new momentum to social and economic development in Kashmir. Further, situation remained peaceful in the valley post-August 05, 2019 when the Article 370 was almost revoked and Jammu Kashmir state downsized to Union Territory
Besides overall peace and good tourism, India's preparation for holding elections has frustrated Pakistan and its spy agency ISI who have been making persistent attempts to derail this process by all possible means.
Since August 2019, 14 Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus have been killed by terrorists across Kashmir. From October 5 last year to October 17, terrorists killed nine non-Muslims in a spate of attacks.
In fact, attempts are being made to recreate a situation that existed 32 years ago when the Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of the Valley.
Like 1989-90, minuscule Pandit community and other non-Muslims living in Kashmir were driven out fear-stricken, hapless and finding options to leave their homeland, properties, jobs, farms, and temples.
The time was different when the majority of Kashmiris got swayed in hordes on the wave of Terrorists and Separatists' calls that decimated the centuries old ethos of Kashmiriyat.
The killings and exodus of Hindus over three decades ago led to a gulf between Muslims and Hindus especially Kashmir Pandits, which has still not been bridged. While a few hundred Pandits across Kashmir took out protest rallies against the killing of Rahul Bhat and Female Teacher Rajni Bala, it was unfortunate to see that not many local Muslims joined them in protests. The ‘Mission' of Pakistan and its sponsored terrorists in Kashmir is to drive out remaining non-Muslims from the Valley
And this time, if the majority community maintains silence on such killings like they did earlier then it would be seen as a covert support to such acts of terrorists. Kashmiri leaders like Farooq, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been invariably stirring passion merely for their political reasons by issuing provocative statements. Such statements give legitimacy to the terrorists to target members of minority communities and non-locals.
After every killing, a mere condemnation through tweets or a statement can't absolve politicians like Abdullah and Mufti. They whip up passions among the local Muslim community to garner votes. Kashmiri Muslims should shun the silence and in one voice need to come out and condemn the killings of minority community members. Their silence has been giving a bad name to Kashmir.
