RIK demands probe into 'forced exodus' of Kashmiri Pandits

Jammu, May 5 (UNI) Demanding the status of ''internally displaced community'', a group of Kashmiri Pandit youths today asked the Central government for setting-up an inquiry commission to probe the ''forced exodus'' of people from valley in early 1990s when militancy started.

Activists of the Delhi-Based 'Roots In Kashmir' (RIK) -- an initiative by Kashmiri Pandit youths in the entire country -- who launched the Jammu chapter of RIK to mobilise their campaigns in the state, called for the exodus of Pandit community from their homeland'' to be probed, in the same way that the government had set-up a commission to probe the custodial killings in the state.

Addressing media persons, RIK member Aditya Raj Kaul said, ''our community has been demanding for last more then 15 years that a commission should be setup which could probe the cause of the entire exodus of pandits.'' ''After the riots in Gujarat, an enquiry commission was setup.

But when we demand a probe into the forced exodus of our entire community, the government did nothing more than just showing sympathy and mere lip service,'' he claimed.

''What about human rights, the ethnic cleansing and genocide? why are we always ignored?,'' he sought to know.

Another activist rashneek kher held JKLF leader, Yasin Malik, along with Bitta Karate and other JKLF militants, responsible for killings of Pandits and destroying temples.

''There are hundreds of cases pending against these people in various courts but the government has never taken them seriously,'' he said.

Mr Kher, however, warned the government that if it fails to take ''proper action'' against Mr Karate and Mr Malik, RIK will stage demonstration in front of Prime Minister's residence.

The rik members also visited Muthi, Purkhoo and Mishriwala camps of the migrants.

''We will be interacting the Kashmiri Pandit migrants and their various organisations. Our motive is to understand their problems in a better way and finally come out with a viable solution,'' said Arun Kaul.

UNI