NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / India News / Ajay Pandita: 30 years on, Pandits still unsafe in Valley
    Ajay Pandita: 30 years on, Pandits still unsafe in Valley
    India

    Ajay Pandita: 30 years on, Pandits still unsafe in Valley

    Written by Shalini Ojha
    June 11, 2020 | 07:30 pm 4 min read
    Ajay Pandita: 30 years on, Pandits still unsafe in Valley

    30 years ago, Kashmiri Pandits fled the Valley, in search of peace as their native place was burnt and destroyed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. Among them was a retired school teacher, Dwarika Nath Pandita. This Monday, Pandita, who managed to lead a quiet life for several years, lost his son Ajay Pandita to terrorists. With his death, the memories of the dark days returned instantly.

    The beginning: Bike-borne terrorists shot Ajay dead at close range

    On Monday, Ajay, the Sarpanch of Lukbawan village in Anantnag district of South Kashmir, was shot at close range by bike-borne terrorists. A grocer, Shahid Aslam, narrated to HuffPost he saw two men, dressed as civilians, shooting him dead. "He fell down and was in a pool of blood," he added. Subsequently, Ajay was rushed to a hospital but couldn't be saved.

    His father revealed Ajay was called out of the house

    "Someone came and informed Ajay that he needed his signature on a form. Ajay stepped out and met with a hail of bullets. We shifted him to hospital but he succumbed to his injuries," Pandita Sr. told reporters, according to The Pioneer.

    No outfit claimed responsibility but police think Hizbul was involved

    Though no one claimed responsibility for the killing, J&K Police Chief Dilbagh Singh believes Hizbul Mujahideen is behind it. Soon, Pradesh Congress Committee President Ghulam Ahmad Mir asked Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu to get the cold-blooded murder investigated. "Pandita was a member of Congress and this is the second killing of a Congress Sarpanch in this area in the recent past," he told media.

    Notably, Ajay's family survived exodus, returned home years later

    Ajay's was the only Kashmiri Pandit family residing in the area. They had fled during the 1990 exodus but returned. "After spending around seven years in Jammu, we returned to Kashmir Valley in 1996-97," Pandita Sr. said. Remembering his son, he said Ajay was patriotic and didn't want to abandon his motherland. Ajay contested and won the 2018 Panchayat polls.

    The son rebuilt their family home, revived the destroyed orchids

    After initially living in rented accommodation for some years, the family shifted to their own home. "No one from the government came forward to help us in any way when we returned to our home and hearth. Ajay raised loans and helped me revive our orchards, ruined during peak days of militancy," Pandita Sr. recalled. My son was brave, he announced with pride.

    Would live and die here: Ajay had told his family

    "My son wasn't afraid of anyone. He would say if security personnel can perform duties in Kashmir valley and sacrifice their lives for the nation why should we run away. I will live and die here in my native village," Pandita Sr. told about Ajay.

    Locals mourned the demise of their son and leader

    The grassroots leader was cremated in Jammu on Tuesday, with relatives and close friends paying rich tributes. A neighbor Ghulam Mohammad Mugloo said Ajay was like his son. "The entire village is mourning his death. This shouldn't have happened," he said. Another local, Bashir Ahmad, said Ajay renovated the water channel, effectively helping farmers water their orchards. The leader only thought about village's development.

    Bereaved daughter remembered her brave father

    Ajay leaves behind his parents, wife, and two daughters. One of his daughters, Niyanta Pandita, said her father was a brave man. "They shot my father at the back. They knew nothing would happen to Ajay Pandita, so they had to attack from the back," she fumed. Separately, Pandita Sr. also said he would always regret that his son was shot from behind.

    "Cowards shot my father"

    #WATCH: "They shot my father at the back... they are cowards," says Niyanta Pandita, daughter of Ajay Pandita, the Congress Sarpanch who was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag on June 8. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/eDBsMFz0u1

    — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2020

    Shaken by Ajay's death, village chiefs demanded security

    In militancy-ridden Kashmir, those participating in democratic practices constantly look over their shoulders. And Ajay's murder emboldened their fears. On Wednesday, at least half a dozen village chiefs gathered at Exhibition Ground demanding security, reminding that they participated in polls despite threats. Manoj Pandita, the Sarpanch of halqa Lajoora in Kakapora block, Pulwama, asked why no one from the administration visited Ajay's family yet.

    Manoj revealed Ajay wanted security, made requests, but in vain

    "Some of us were provided accommodation without security in Srinagar and left vulnerable to the attacks. The slain Sarpanch repeatedly demanded security but his pleas were ignored time and again which ultimately cost his life," Manoj lamented.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Jammu
    Hizbul Mujahideen
    Kashmiri Pandit
    Kashmir Valley

    Jammu

    'Hollow, unacceptable,' J&K politicians slam new domicile rule Ministry Of Home Affairs
    Ladakh: Mobile internet services restored in Kargil after 145 days Jammu And Kashmir
    Farooq Abdullah's detention in J&K extended by 3 months Jammu And Kashmir
    Meet GC Murmu, the first L-G of Jammu and Kashmir Jammu And Kashmir

    Hizbul Mujahideen

    Wanted Hizbul terrorist Riyaz Naikoo killed in Kashmir India
    Suspended J&K DSP Davinder Singh sent to NIA custody Jammu And Kashmir
    Arrested with terrorists, J&K DSP alleges senior cop's involvement: Report Jammu And Kashmir
    Arrested J&K DSP Davinder Singh sheltered terrorists at home: Report Jammu And Kashmir

    Kashmiri Pandit

    Squatters to be evicted from homes meant for Kashmiri Pandit-migrants Jammu And Kashmir
    'Shikara' has its flaws, and the burden is on Bollywood Bollywood
    'Shikara' review: A beautifully crafted tale of an unforgettable tragedy Bollywood
    Activists move court against 'Shikara', claim the movie is communal Jammu And Kashmir

    Kashmir Valley

    Our voices have been silenced: Zaira Wasim talks about Kashmir Bollywood
    Second official trailer of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Shikara' out Bollywood
    Kashmir: SMS service to be restored from Dec 31 midnight India
    BJP leader dragged out of International summit: Here's why Jammu And Kashmir
    Next News Article

    Love India News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    India Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023