Report by Prerna Deep:
31 years ago, with heavy Hearts and hope of return amid ambiguity, the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley began. The night of January 19, 1990, was not easy for Hindu Families residing in the Kashmiri Valley. According to the account published by the Hindu Pandits who left the valley, it was the night when threatening slogans over loudspeakers from mosques were started in the valley, and on the streets.
Speeches were made extolling Pakistan and the supremacy of Islam. The movement then took an anti-Hinduism turn.
The Kashmiri Pandits decided, or we can say were pushed to leave. The first stream began to leave the Valley with hastily packed belongings on 20th January. They opted for whatever transport they could find. After that, more Pandits were killed and a second batch left in March and April. Soon after this incident, CRPF shot down 160 Kashmiri Muslim protesters. The massacre took place at the Gawkadal Bridge.
This has come to be known as the worst massacre in the long history of the conflict in Kashmir. These two events took place in the time frame of 48 hours, only. These events, the flight of the Pandits, and the Gawkadal Massacre are now 31 years old, but still, the pain and bruise are unceasing. Neither of the communities is able to accept the pain of the others.
