KPs observe July 13 as Black Day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 13: Kashmiri Pandits observed July 13 as Black Day and alleged that on this day communal violence took place in Kashmir Valley and minority Hindus were done to death, their houses torched and property looted.
All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) led by Moti Lal Malla held a peaceful protest at Press Club here and termed July 13 as Batta Loot Day-a date etched in the painful memory of Kashmir Pandit community.
The ASKPC leaders said on this day in 1931 one of the earliest and most devastating communal attacks was unleashed on the community, under a big conspiracy and homes were looted, temples were desecrated and houses were razed to ground while many community members were done to death.
The said seeds sown in 1931 communal violence resurfaced in 1986 when minority Hindus were attacked at various places in South Kashmir. They demanded that July 13 of 1991 be recognised as Batta Loot day at national level and 1931, 1986 and 1990 atrocities on Hindus be acknowledged as acts of communal violence and ethnic cleansing.
Senior BJP leader and former State secretary of the party, Pawan Sharma strongly condemned the attempts to distort historical facts and glorifying aggressors and fundamentalists as martyrs on July 13, a date historically misrepresented by certain political figures.
He said July 13 serves as a stark reminder of a dark chapter when communal violence was given a false narrative of martyrdom.
Social and political activist and national spokesperson youth NCP Rishi Kilam today asserted that July 13 should not be observed as Martyrs’ Day in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to reporters here, he claimed that those who died in the 1931 incident outside Srinagar Central Jail were not martyrs but individuals involved in anti-Hindu violence before initiating resistance against Maharaja Hari Singh.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference also observed the day as Black Day by wearing black badges. On the day KPC chief, Kundan Kashmiri said that July 13 of 1931 was a black spot on the Kashmir when minority Hindus were targeted by communal forces and many members of the community were brutally killed, their houses torched and property looted.
Kashmiri on the occasion made an appeal to all KP organisations including Panun Kashmir to join hands and form a united Assembly of 40 to 50 members to fight for rights of the community and their honourable return to separate homeland within Valley.
All Migrant Camp Coordination Committee (AMCCC) led by Desh Rattan Pandita also observed the day as Black Day and paid glowing tribute to those members of Hindu minority who were killed by communal elements on this day in Kashmir.
Victims of Terrorism led by Dileep Pandita also paid glowing tribute to the minority Hindus who were done to death on this day in Kashmir and demanded that a commission be constituted to probe the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits and punishment to those who were responsible for the same.
All State Kashmir Pandit Conference (ASKPC) observed Black Day to protest against the brutal killing of members of minority community by frenzy mob in Kashmir instigated by Abdul Kadir under a conspiracy. The ASKPC activists held protest at Durga Nagar under the leadership of its president, R K Wangnoo who termed this day as a black spot in history of J&K.
A group of social activists led by Vinod Pandita held a meeting at Muthi in which glowing tribute were paid to the martyrs of community who were killed by communal forces on this day in Kashmir.
Kashmiri Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha led by Ramesh Chander Mahajan also observed the day as Black Day and paid glowing tribute to minority Hindus who were martyred on this day in Kashmir.
Another protest was held by Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) at Durga Nagar under leadership of Sanjay Ganjoo and Bal Krishan Bhat in which glowing tribute were paid to Hindu martyrs of 1931.

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