Bilal veri cni
Today, the All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) under the leadership of Shri Moti Lal Malla, President, organized a peaceful Sit-in Dharna at the Press Club, Jammu to mark 13th July as “Batta Loot Day”-a date etched in the painful memory of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
On this very day in 1931, one of the earliest and most devastating communal attacks was unleashed on the innocent and peace-loving Kashmiri Pandits. In a coordinated and widespread assault, homes were looted, temples were desecrated, houses were burnt, and many lost their lives simply for belonging to a particular faith. This incident marked the beginning of targeted communal violence against Pandits in the Kashmir Valley.
This dark chapter in history did not remain an isolated incident. The seed of communal hatred sown in 1931 resurfaced with even more brutality in 1986, when a communal riot broke out in Anantnag (Danow), where scores of Pandit houses and temples were set ablaze. The culmination of this long-standing intolerance was witnessed in 1990, when the entire Kashmiri Pandit community was forced into exile due to threats, killings, and mass persecution, resulting in one of the largest internal displacements in post-Independence India.
Today’s sit-in dharna was not only to remember these painful events but also to demand long-overdue justice, recognition, and restoration of rights. A large gathering of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, including men, women, and children, participated in the protest carrying placards and raising slogans that echoed the community’s pain and plea for justice.
Key Demands Raised:
Recognition of 13th July as “Batta Loot Day” at national and state levels.
Acknowledgment of the 1931, 1986, and 1990 atrocities as acts of communal violence and ethnic cleansing.
A comprehensive rehabilitation policy ensuring safe, secure, and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland.
Immediate attention by the Government of India and the UT Administration towards the socio-economic hardships faced by the displaced community even after 35 years of exile.
A memorandum was submitted to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir requesting sympathetic and immediate consideration of the demands of the community, which has remained marginalized and ignored for decades despite repeated assurances.
President Sh. Moti Lal Malla, in his address, emphasized that the community has always stood for peace, nationalism, and harmony. However, their sacrifices, sufferings, and contributions have been continuously sidelined. He called upon the government and civil society to acknowledge the pain and take concrete steps toward truth, justice, and return with dignity.
The protest concluded with a resolve to continue the peaceful struggle until justice is delivered and history remembers the truth.
“We were uprooted, but not broken. We remember. We resist. And we will return.” Cni