PANUN REPORT ALLEGES
ETHNIC CLEANSING
THE
TRIBUNE
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 1996
Jammu Feb 5:- The
Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) headed by Mr.
Ashwani Kumar, has called upon national and
international agencies to take note of the human
rights violations to which Kashmiri Hindus have
been subjected to during the past eight years.
In a voluminous report on
human rights violations in the state released here
today, the PKM has listed names of Pandits who had
been murdered by secessionists in the State since
1987 and of those whose movable and immovable
property had been destroyed an d looted. Names of
over 75 temples and other Hindu shrines destroyed
between 1990 and 1993 have also been listed in the
report.
The report, which was
released at a function by Mr. M.M Khajuria, former
Director-General police, refers to the effects of
exodus, problems of students and discrimination of
Pandits in support of its contention that the
displaced families have been subjected to worst
form of human rights violations.
It has given a detailed
account of the impact of migration on the physical
and mental set-up of the displaced people. The
report claims that over 400 migrants died because
of heat and sunstroke during the past five years
in exile. As many as 24 drowned while bathing in
canals here. More than 20 died due to dog and
snake bites. Over 200 had been killed in road
accidents.
The percentage of
tuberculosis cases among the displaced persons
also registered increase due to malnutrition,
diminished immunity, overcrowding and poor
sanitary facilities in the camps.
Basing the data on
surveys and other official reports, it found that
the death rate has surpassed the birth rate in the
Community. Against 16 births there had been 49
deaths in one camp during the past five years.
Apart from this most of
the displaced persons have suffered psychological
disorders.
It has blamed the
government for the resultant insecurity and
uncertainty among the displaced. A majority of
people whose shops and houses were burnt by the
secessionists had not been paid compensation.
Those who were given relief received less than 40
percent of the loss assessed by the state
agencies. In several cases insurance agencies too
discriminated against the minority community.
The report has blamed the
government and other public sector undertakings
and corporations for violating the rights of
Kashmiri Pandits. During 1990-95 seven Kashmiri
Hindus were recruited by the State Bank of India
against 400 Muslims. The Jammu and Kashmir Bank
absorbed 713 Muslims against 86 Hindus during the
same period.
The report claims that
other channels for recruitment of Kashmiri Hindus
had been sealed by the government. The government
took no measures for ensuring uninterrupted
academic carrier of students belonging to the
displaced families.
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