A public interest letter petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking immediate intervention of the Chief Justice of India UU Lalit over the alleged targeted killings of Hindus in Kashmir, besides ensuring Rs one lakh compensation to the victims’ families and job to one person of the family.
Written by Advocate Vineet Jindal, the letter petition further sought direction to the authorities for relocation of Hindu Minorities to Jammu, along with job security, so as to save their lives.
The petitioner contended that the recent incidents in the Valley, especially the targeted killing of the members of Hindu community, have once again reminded him of the Hindu massacre that took place in 1989-90.
Claiming that Kashmiri Hindus were in a vulnerable situation in the valley, the petitioner urged the CJI to save their lives from the terrorists.
He further claimed that such killings would have an indelible impact on the Hindus, who were feeling threatened in Kashmir. The petition alleged that the systematic targeting of Hindus had resulted in instilling a sense of fear, vulnerability, and insecurity among the Hindu community residing in the Valley.
The letter petition took note of the various schemes initiated by the Union government for the resettlement of Hindu migrants in Kashmir.
It said the declaration of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory by the Government of India was done after the abolition of Article 370, with the intent of creating a harmonious and secure environment for the minority migrants of Jammu and Kashmir, but the recent heinous targeted killings of Hindus has again terrorised their spirits.
The petitioner mentioned three incidents in this context. He said Puran Kishan Bhat was killed by an armed man near his residence in Sophian, Kashmir on May 16, 2022. A bank employee named Vijay Kumar was gunbned down in Kulgam by Islamic terrorists on June 2, while a grenade was thrown at a newly-opened wine shop through the porthole window, killing one and injuring three others on May 17.
As per the petitioner, he had written to former Chief Justice of India N.V.Ramana, asking him to take cognisance of the targeted killings of Hindus and Sikhs in Kashmir.
The letter further mentioned the Anantnag incident of 2000, in which 36 Sikhs were butchered and said that the recent killings in Kashmir had reminded people of such incidents.