Threats to Kashmiri Pandit Officials from Terror Group in Jammu and Kashmir

Threatening Letters Sent to Kashmiri Pandit Officials

According to Indian intelligence sources, the banned organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has sent a threatening letter to Kashmiri Pandit officials working in Jammu and Kashmir, identifying itself under the guise of the 'United Liberation Council' (ULC). The letter claims that the group possesses detailed information about the officials' families, residences, and workplaces. The terrorist organization warned that even if the Kashmiri Pandits relocate to Jammu, they would still be targeted. Dated August 7, the letter also issued warnings to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the Director General of Police, and officials in New Delhi, urging them to halt a process that the group described as the confiscation of terrorists' properties and harassment of their supporters and relatives.

Community Response and Historical Context

A senior journalist from Srinagar confirmed the authenticity of this letter to a digital news platform. He noted that such threatening communications instill fear within the Kashmiri Pandit community, particularly in Jammu. M.K. Dhar, the media secretary of the group 'Panun Kashmir,' condemned these threats as "unacceptable," questioning how much longer Kashmiri Hindus would have to live in hiding. The rise of terrorism in the 1990s, marked by targeted killings and threats, forced many Kashmiri Pandits to flee the Kashmir Valley. Terrorists issued warnings from local mosques, demanding that Kashmiri Hindus convert to Islam, leave the valley, or face death. This period remains one of the darkest chapters in the history of Kashmiri Pandits, leading to a mass exodus from their homeland, with many settling in Jammu.

Specific Threats to Government Officials

In the letter, the ULC threatened retaliatory actions, specifically mentioning administrative departments like the Revenue Department, where several Kashmiri Pandit officials are employed. The letter also claimed that the organization had information about the officials and their family members, warning that they could be targeted even if they moved to Jammu. The ULC referenced six government employees from the Kashmiri Pandit community and included threats directed at police personnel, stating that most of the force comprises locals, which increases the risk of attacks on various officers. The letter was signed by an individual named Ahmad Bilal, who identified himself as the group's media coordinator and referred to himself as a 'Soldier of Resistance.'