No Kashmiri Pandit Left Valley In 2022, 6 Members Killed By Militants Since 2020: Govt To Parliament

The data by the government comes at a time when targeted killings of minority community members have triggered panic among Kashmiri Pandits.  

Members of Kashmiri Pandit community hold placards as they take part in a sit-in protest

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The Centre told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that six Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants since 2020. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said that no Kashmiri Pandit migrated from the Valley in 2022. The data by the government comes at a time when targeted killings of minority community members have triggered panic and fear among Kashmiri Pandits.  

"As per the records, no Kashmiri Pandit has left from the Kashmir Valley during the year 2022. The number of Kashmiri Pandits who are still residing in the valley is 6,514," MoS Home Nityanand Rai told Rajya Sabha.

"The number of Kashmiri Pandits killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, are 1, 4 and 1 respectively," he further said.

On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a government employee, was killed by terrorists inside his office in Budgam district. Days later, Rajni Bala, a teacher from Jammu's Samba district posted in Kulgam, was shot dead outside the school by militants. 

On April 13, a militant shot and killed Satish Kumar Singh, a Rajput, outside his home in Kakran village bordering Shopian and Kulgam district. On April 4, militants shot at a Kashmiri Pandit, Bal Krishan Bhat (39), in south Kashmir's Kulgam. 

The incidents have triggered protests by members of the Kashmiri Pandit community who have demanded enhanced security and transfer of government employees to safer locations. The protesters have demanded relocation to home districts in Jammu division.

On Tuesday, however, the government informed the Lok Sabha that no Kashmiri Pandit working under the Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) had resigned in protest against the killings of fellow community members.

"As per the information provided by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, no Kashmiri Pandit working under the Prime Minister's Development Package has resigned in protest against the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in Kashmir Valley," Rai said replying to a written question.

Rai also said 5,502 Kashmiri Pandits were provided government jobs in different departments of Jammu and Kashmir administration in the Kashmir Valley under the PMDP.