The Kashmir Files : What’s The Full Story Of Genocide Of Kashmiri Pandits, See In Pics

Once again the hearts of Kashmiri Hindus have been filled with pain with the release of The Kashmir Files movie. It is based on a true story, in fact, saying that it was a story is wrong. Each and every scene has had happened in real during the 1990s when the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits took place.

Kashmir which is dubbed as ‘The Heaven on Earth’ turned into a land of dead people on 19^th January 1990. Those who have witnessed this nightmare felt as if they were getting punishment for either being Hindus or being the residents of Kashmir.

Nobody came for help; people were dying and screaming for help. Their own government betrayed them. Someone who was or is untouched by this, will not believe or feel that horror.

However, the scars of that Holocaust Day are still fresh in the minds and hearts of those people. If you turn the pages of history, you will get the pieces of the Kashmiri pandits genocide.

See In Pics: Timeline Of Genocide Of Kashmiri Pandits 

1. Year 1983, Background- Elections

It all began with the victory of Farooq Abdullah (son of Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah) in the 1983 election in the valley. However, he didn’t continue with his government for long in the valley on the grounds of losing support from his MLAs.

Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister then and she put Ghulam Mohammad Shah as her puppet in the power in Kashmir.

2. Year 1984, Background- Attack On Hindu Temples

This was the time when Mrs. Gandhi was killed by a Sikh bodyguard. It was also the time when the first series of attacks on Hindu temples happened in Anantnag. The basis of this attack was a declaration of building a mosque in Jammu. Shah was the one who stir up the controversy.

Bal Krishna Handoo who was the leader of the Hindu Action Committee then saw this as a threat to Hindus and religious temples. On the other side, separatists were gaining strength in the valley.

3. Year 1987, Background- Assembly Elections

Once again Farooq Abdullah was in power when Rajiv Gandhi stopped giving his support to Shah and his Government. But it was not the lone contender of power; Muslim United Front was growing with the support of Mufti.

4. Year 1989, Background- Kidnapping of Mufti’s Daughter And Release Of Militants

Farooq’s Government was again in trouble with Mufti getting a chair at the Centre as a Home Minister. But before he could remove Farooq, his daughter was kidnapped by militants of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.

They asked him to release their 5 men. The Centre put pressure on Farooq to release the militants for which he would hold the responsibility.

As soon as militants were released, a wave of fear began in Kashmir. Series of blasts, killing of officials, curfews, clashes, and protests started in the valley. One of the separatists who was charged for murdering 4 IAF personnel during 1990s was Yaseen Malik.

5. Year 1989, Background- Assassination of Tika Lal Taploo

Taploo was the first Kashmiri Pandit who was killed by the militants. He was one of the biggest leaders of their community. His death weakens the power of Hindus in the valley and began the deadly dance of deaths. This incident was also shown in the Kashmir Files movie.

6. Year 1990, Background- To Turn Kashmir Into Pakistan

The streets of Kashmir echoed anti-Indian and anti-pandit slogans. Posters were put at the houses of Hindus to leave Kashmir; every second person was seen as murderer.

Hundreds of men holding guns used to enter the houses of Hindus threatened them and killed them. Women were kidnapped and raped, their homes were burnt, and hundreds of men were shot down brutally.

Around 60 thousand people managed to escape but became a refugee in their own motherland and those who stayed back left the world. The government was silent on these atrocities and inhumane behavior with Hindus.

The Kashmir Files tried to show all this in pieces to the audience and whosoever has watched it felt the goosebumps and emotions of the Kashmiri Hindus.