SRINAGAR, 23 July 2005 — Four separatist groups said yesterday they would not allow minority Hindu Pandits who had left the region some 16 years ago to return to Kashmir.
Kashmir’s moderate separatist leaders and officials said this month they were making plans to help thousands of Kashmiri Pandits to return due to a peace process between India and Pakistan.
“They (Hindus) deserted the majority community during the time of crisis and indulged in anti-movement activities,” said a joint statement by the four organizations — Al-Nasireen, Al-Arifeen, Save Kashmir Movement and Farzandan-e-Millat.
“They will not be allowed to return unless they apologize and offer penance for their acts,” said the statement faxed to media organizations. The four groups have claimed a series of attacks across the region over the past few years.
Authorities say more than 200,000 Pandits fled Kashmir in 1989 due to a rise in the killings of Hindus and attacks on their homes by militants at the start of the rebellion.
More than 45,000 people have been killed in the revolt in Jammu and Kashmir, mainly Hindu India’s only Muslim-majority state.
